Weed gets at least 30 years for killing his mother, niece

Nov, 11-2009 11:53 am

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP – A Galloway Township man was sentenced to at least 30 years in prison Tuesday, Nov. 10 for killing his mother and niece, and attempting to kill another niece in August 2008 at his home, according to Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel.

Ronald Weed, 42, was sentenced in accordance with a September plea agreement to two concurrent 30-year-prison terms with no period of parole eligibility for 30 years for murdering his mother, Loretta Weed, and his niece, Kimberly McCarten.

Weed was also sentenced to 10 years in prison to run concurrent to the murder sentences for the attempted murder of his niece, Courtney McCarten, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Cary Shill said.

“Without question, this is one of the most heartbreaking cases to come before the court,” Shill said. “There is nothing more tragic, there is nothing more terrible than dealing with the murder of a child. The circumstances and the brutality surrounding the killing make it more tragic.”

On Aug. 5, 2008, Weed attacked his mother and nieces using an axe, a blunt object and a knife. One of his nieces called 911 to say that her grandmother, Loretta Weed, 65, was being attacked in her home on South Nectar Avenue in Galloway Township. The woman died a few hours later.

The defendant then turned his rage on his 12-year-old twin nieces Kimberly and Courtney McCarten. Courtney McCarten survived the attack, but suffered severe injuries.

Courtney McCarten, now 14, and other family members spoke Tuesday prior to the judge imposing Weed’s sentence.

She told Superior Court Judge Bernard E. DeLury that her uncle “used an axe on my grandma.”

She said her uncle hit her with a blunt object after she walked into the living room and witnessed him kill her grandmother. She said she fell to the ground and did not see what her uncle did to her sister Kimberly, but only heard her sister’s screams.

The judge also heard from Loretta Largo, the girls’ mother and daughter of Loretta Weed. She urged the judge not to sentence her brother to prison, but rather commit him to an institution so he could get the care he needs.

Shill said Weed needed to be imprisoned, and while there is proof that the defendant suffers from mental illness, the evidence shows that statements Weed made after the killings demonstrate he knew his actions were wrong.

According to Galloway Township police officers who responded to Weed’s home that morning, Weed stated, “I killed them, they’re dead.”

According to Shill, that statement demonstrates the defendant understood the nature of his actions.

Shill said Weed’s further statements, “Could they just execute me now and get it over with?” and that he did not want to answer questions until he talked to a lawyer showed that he knew what he did was wrong.

DeLury said he agreed that Weed suffers from mental health issues, but the court must follow the law and the evidence in the case shows the defendant was not criminally insane when he committed the crimes.

The question of whether the mental health system failed Ronald Weed remains open, according to DeLury; what is not in question is that there were three victims of a brutal attack and Weed committed brutal acts.

Weed told the court he did not wish to say anything on his behalf before sentencing.