A man that was charged with murder and arson last week had his first day in court. Joseph F. Palmer 3rd, 38, of 214 Washington Avenue, Egg Harbor City, was charged with the Wednesday murders of Michelle Pabst, 38—and of her son, Gavin Pabst, age 7. Palmer was charged also with aggravated arson, for setting fire to the residence with the purpose of destroying it. Palmer told the judge he would be getting his own lawyer rather than going with a public defender. Bail was set at $2 million in the case.
