Denville Man Sentenced to 50 Years for the Murder of His Ex-Wife

Published on September 01, 2014

Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces that the Honorable Robert J. Gilson, J.S.C. sentenced Anthony F. Novellino, 67 years old, of Denville, New Jersey to 50 years in State Prison for the murder of his ex-wife, Judith Novellino.

On July 23, 2014, a jury found the defendant guilty of Murder, Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purposes, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Hindering Own Apprehension and Tampering with Physical Evidence in connection with the stabbing death of his ex-wife on June 19, 2010. Judith Novellino was 62 years old at the time of her death and had recently divorced the defendant. The murder occurred at the former marital home in Denville, when she was packing some of her belongings in an effort to move out of the home. The defendant arrived at the home, stabbed his ex-wife 84 times and placed a pig's mask over her face before he fled to Puyallup, Washington.

Judge Gilson sentenced the defendant to 50 years in State Prison. Defendant is required to serve 85 percent of his sentence under New Jersey's No Early Release Act (NERA) before becoming eligible for parole. All other sentences are to run concurrent.

Executive Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood and Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Tia Manochio represented the State at the sentencing.

Prosecutor Knapp stated, The sentence imposed by the Court is fitting given the unspeakable nature of the crimes committed by the defendant. This was a despicable and cowardly murder and was punctuated by a final horrific insult. We hope that the friends and family of Judy Novellino will now have some sense of finality.

Prosecutor Knapp thanked Denville Township Police Chief Christopher Wagner and the Denville Township Police Department; Sheriff Edward Rochford and the Morris County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Section; the Puyallup Washington Police Department; the Morris County Medical Examiner's Office; the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes and General Investigations Unit for their efforts resulting in today's sentence.

Any inquiries can be directed to First Assistant Morris County Prosecutor Thomas Zelante at 973-285-6252 or tzelante@co.morris.nj.us.