By GEORGE MAST
Courier-Post Staff
A woman found dead from an apparent suicide last month was actually murdered, authorities said Thursday.
The body of Kathyleen Trimble, a 35-year-old Mantua native, was found lying beneath a belt tied to a tree in a Camden lot on Feb. 11, suggesting the mother of two had hanged herself, officials said.
But two city police detectives kept questioning Trimble's death in the Waterfront South neighborhood, and the investigation led to a homicide charge against her boyfriend, Joseph Foy, 39, of Woodbury, according to authorities.
"Between physical evidences and information they gathered after the fact, the detectives showed this wasn't a suicide," said Jason Laughlin, a spokesman for the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.
"These guys deserve a lot of credit," he said of the Camden police detectives -- Shawn Donlon and Robert Perkins.
The detectives could not be reached Thursday.
Trimble's mother, Rita Mills of Sewell, described her daughter as "a very good-natured person who had a big heart.
"She loved her kids. She lived for her kids," said Mills. She said her daughter was trying to overcome problems in her life before she was killed.
Foy, who is to be arraigned in Superior Court today, allegedly strangled Trimble during a domestic dispute on the night of Feb. 9. He then allegedly staged the suicide scene in a nearby lot on 4th Street between Whitman and Jackson streets, where her body was found partially buried by new-fallen snow two days later, authorities said.
Investigators learned of one witness who saw Foy strangling the victim with a belt, authorities said.
The cause of death, initially determined to be suicide, was changed to homicide on Wednesday.
Foy was arrested in downtown Camden on Thursday afternoon.
Trimble is the city's fifth homicide victim this year.
A Burlington County couple found buried in a Lanning Square yard on Feb. 25 now are considered the year's sixth and seventh homicide victims.
Authorities continue to investigate the slayings of Michael Hawkins, 23, of Mount Holly and Muriah Huff, 18, of Cinnaminson.
The city had seven homicides at this time in 2009, a year when the homicide total fell to 34, down from 52 in 2008.
Staff writer Jim Walsh contributed to this report. Reach George Mast at (856) 486-2465 or gmast@camden.gannett.com
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