New Jersey Man Commits Suicide Following Murder Conviction

A man from New Jersey took his own life the day after a jury found him guilty of murdering his wife in 2021, officials reported.

Shaun Lichtfas was discovered unresponsive in his cell at the Camden County Correctional Facility around 11:18 PM on September 19 during routine checks. According to a statement from the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, paramedics were called, but Lichtfas was pronounced dead via telemetry just after 11:39 PM.

Lichtfas had been convicted on September 18 for the murder of his 38-year-old wife, Stephanie Callaway. Reports indicate that he had an argument with her before the fatal incident, with medical examiners confirming the cause of death was due to pressure on her neck.

During the investigation, Lichtfas admitted to suffocating Callaway until she could no longer breathe around 3 AM. A 2021 affidavit noted that he had sent texts afterward, reaching out to two acquaintances, one concerning his own well-being and the other expressing, “Sorry for doing this… I just snapped.”

Additionally, he had contacted the police, leading them to the couple’s apartment. When they received no response, officers entered the premises and found Callaway deceased in the bedroom. Lichtfas was apprehended approximately eight hours later in a nearby convenience store parking lot.

The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office later confirmed that an autopsy conducted on September 22 revealed Lichtfas died of asphyxiation by suicide.

Following a six-day trial, Lichtfas received a conviction for first-degree murder. Reports indicate that the jury reached a verdict in about 45 minutes.