BRIDGETON — A judge sentenced a Bridgeton man to 30 years in state prison Monday for killing a Stow Creek mother.
AJ Eldridge, now 34, had dated Tara Hayes before she broke off the relationship in January 2009, the same month he killed her, according to Crystal Tuthil, the victim’s sister. He shot Hayes to death in her father’s Geisinger Avenue home.
Eldridge fired the fatal shots as he tried to force his way into a bathroom where Hayes, 26, was taking refuge. Eldridge reached inside and fired, killing her.
Hayes’ father and two sisters read statements before the sentencing in Cumberland County Superior Court. Statements from Hayes’ young daughter, Shyla, and the girl’s father, Bill Hayes, also were read.
Eldridge bowed his head and appeared uncomfortable throughout the families’ statements.
Hayes’ father, Harry Simmonds, said Eldridge should consider the impact the slaying had on the victim’s daughter, who was 6 years old when her mother was killed.
“No one knows how it’s really affected her or how it’s going to affect her in the long term,” he said.
He called the plea agreement a “gift … that is only a down payment for what you’ve done.”
Simmonds added, “I am confident with your arrogance you will find a lot more trouble along the way.”
Eldridge initially declined to speak when prompted by the judge, saying “I’m good.”
But after hearing statements from the family and receiving his sentence, Eldridge spoke with his back to the family and apologized.
“Yes, I’ve done something very bad, and yes, I deserve the time (I’m going to serve),” he said.
For the damage he had caused, Eldridge said, “I’ll sleep with that every day until the day I die.”
Tuthil reconstructed some of the events surrounding the slaying on Jan. 12, 2009.
Late in December 2008, she said, Hayes had learned about Eldridge’s history of abusive behavior. On Jan. 8, she decided to end the relationship.
“He was very controlling and possessive over my sister,” during their short relationship, Tuthil said.
“He came up with a plan that if he couldn’t have her, no one would,” she said.
Eldridge was charged with murder the day after the killing.
His plea agreement in June reduced the charge to aggravated manslaughter, for which he received 25 years behind bars in addition to five years for arson. He set a fire in the home after the slaying.
Eldridge won’t be eligible for parole until serving slightly more than 20 years. He has been in jail since his arrest and was credited for time served Monday.
He will have to make $10,850 in restitution for costs incurred by Hayes’ family.
Eldridge had sought to withdraw his plea agreement, due partly to the question of whether he would be able to see a psychologist.
However, Judge Darrell Fineman rejected the motion to withdraw the plea Monday before proceeding with the sentencing.
Hayes was a student at Cumberland County College when she was killed. The school has since granted her an academic certificate and honorary degree.
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