2006 Media Releases:

CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
JAMES P. LYNCH, ACTING CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR
MEDIA INFORMATION

March 22, 2006

Acting Camden County Prosecutor James P. Lynch and Gloucester City Police Chief William G. Crothers reported that a judge set bail today at $500,000 for a woman charged with Murder in the fatal weekend beating and stabbing of Lisa Hoopes, 43, in Gloucester City, N.J.

Karen A. Sluzalis, 41, of Pennsauken, was charged Tuesday night. She is being held at the Camden County Correctional Facility in lieu of bail.

Sluzalis is the second defendant charged with Murder in Hoopes’ death. John W. Creamer III, 40, of Gloucester City, remains hospitalized for treatment of a chronic medical condition. An arraignment is expected to be scheduled upon his release from the hospital. Temporary bail is set at $500,000 pending his arraignment.

Gloucester City Police found Hoopes’ body in Creamer’s apartment at 329 N. Burlington St. at approximately 7:30 a.m. on Monday, March 20, 2006, after Creamer reported to he believed something bad had happened there. An autopsy determined Hoopes suffered multiple blunt force injuries to the head as well as multiple stab wounds to the body.

A Probable Cause Statement accompanying the arrest warrant alleges that Sluzalis struck Hoopes on the head with a glass bottle, and also punched and kicked the victim, on Friday night, March 18. Creamer allegedly stomped the victim after she had fallen to the floor. The statement indicates that a possible motive for the killing was that the defendants believed Hoopes stole money from Sluzalis. The defendants then left the apartment with Hoopes’ body inside, according to the statement.

The investigation is continuing by the Prosecutor’s Office and Gloucester City Police.

All persons charged with criminal offenses are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.