A man who allegedly strangled his ex-girlfriend to death at a home in Waldwick New Jersey recently pleaded guilty to criminal charges for first degree murder.

The homicide was reportedly committed on October 23, 2013. According to Bergen County prosecutors, the suspect, 22-year-old Mark J. Spatucci, brutally killed his 23-year-old girlfriend, Mary Greff, at her parents’ home in Waldwick, NJ.

Spatucci and Greff dated for a while and had a 10-month-old infant together. Before the violent incident, the couple broke up. At this time, it is unclear if the victim obtained a permanent restraining order against the suspect prior to the murder.

At the time of the homicide, the couple’s infant child was sleeping in the house, as were the victim’s parents.
Bergen County prosecutors said that the suspect gained access to the Waldwick NJ house, which was owned by the victim’s parents, by breaking into a second-floor window. Once inside the home, the suspect allegedly went to a room where the victim and her young son were sleeping.

Spatucci and Greff reportedly began to argue, with the argument soon turning violent and ending with Spatucci allegedly strangling Greff and killing her.

Sometime later, Waldwick police officers managed to locate the suspect in Midland Park, New Jersey. He was subsequently arrested and charged with numerous criminal offenses, including first degree murder.

Bergen County medical examiners performed an autopsy on the victim, determining that the suspect may have raped her before committing the murder. As a result, the suspect was later charged with the sex crime of aggravated sexual assault.

Now the suspect appears to be on his way to spending several decades in NJ State Prison. He recently appeared in Bergen County Superior Court, located in Hackensack NJ, and pleaded guilty to the murder charges.

Spatucci also pleaded guilty to criminal charges of hindering apprehension. The hindering apprehension charges arose because the suspect reportedly tried to destroy evidence and cover up the killing.

In exchange for Spatucci agreeing to plead guilty to the homicide charges, Bergen County NJ prosecutors dropped additional charges for burglary, endangering the welfare of a child, and sexual assault.

Since being placed under arrest, the suspect had been housed at the Bergen County Jail on a massive $2 million bail amount.

Now the suspect will likely be spending many years in state prison. Prosecutors are expected to recommend that he receive a sentence of 45 years behind bars.

The victim in the homicide was a former beauty pageant contestant who competed in the Miss Teen USA competition. She was reportedly training to become a server at the Tilted Kilt, a popular restaurant located in Wayne, New Jersey.

For further information about this case, check out the Patch.com article, “Bergen Man Pleads Guilty to Murdering Former Beauty Pageant Contestant.”