An Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted three men for various crimes, including murder and conspiracy to commit murder, for their alleged roles in the October 16, 2010 death of an Egg Harbor City mother of two, Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel announced.
Rafael Olmo, 27, of Egg Harbor City, allegedly conspired with Mario Adams, 28, of Hammonton, and Dontay Matthews, 21, of Elwood, to kill 29-year-old Deanna Downs. On October 17, 2010, the Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit detectives responded to the Harbor City Apartments located on Atlantic Avenue in Egg Harbor City at 12:14 a.m., for a report that a resident walking to his mailbox discovered a body behind buildings J and K. Upon arrival, detectives located the victim, who was later identified as Downs, a resident of the apartment complex. An autopsy determined she died of a gunshot wound.
Adams, the alleged shooter, and Olmo were indicted for first-degree murder. All three defendants were collectively indicted for first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree conspiracy to commit murder for hire, second-degree conspiracy to commit witness tampering and second-degree witness tampering. Additionally, Adams was indicted for second-degree possession of a firearm for unlawful purposes, third-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and two counts of fourth-degree possession of a weapon by a convicted person.
All three defendants remain in custody and are awaiting an arraignment date, according to Chief Assistant Prosecutor John Maher who represented the State.
