0309ae3b810ba3ac492939498fc56abc.jpg

SOUTH BRUNSWICK: DNA blood sample leads cops to Warren County Jail inmate

By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
   A couple drops of blood left during a fall burglary in the township led detectives to the jail cell of a suspected carjacker in Warren County, according to police.
   Police responded to a Deans Lane home in September, and Detective Mike Pellino found the burglar apparently cut himself after breaking a rear window to get into the home.
   Samples of the blood were taken and sent to the New Jersey State Police Office of Forensic Science.
   According to police, the lab was able to match the blood samples to Princeton Township resident Justin Mercer, 30.
   Mr. Mercer was in the Warren County jail where he is awaiting trial on an alleged carjacking incident on Route 80 on Oct. 1.
   According to published reports, a motorist stopped to help Mr. Mercer with his disabled vehicle on the side of Route 80 in Hope Township.
   The motorist, a registered nurse, told police she stopped because Mr. Mercer’s vehicle had heavy damage to the front end, and she feared he may have been injured.
   According to the report, Mr. Mercer jumped into the nurse’s vehicle when she was outside and took off with her 10-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son inside.
   Mr. Mercer allegedly dropped the children off unharmed at a Bank of America 11 miles away, according to the report. He allegedly ditched that vehicle and stole another one before police were able to catch up with him near West Orange, according to the report. He was jailed in Warren County in lieu of $250,000 bail.
   South Brunswick detectives interviewed Mr. Mercer in jail and charged him with the September burglary, according to police. Bail in that case was set at $50,000.