Cherry Hill, New Jersey – A former senior rabbi from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, who was convicted of hiring hitmen to kill his wife so he could pursue an affair with a radio personality in Philadelphia, has been found unresponsive inside the New Jersey State Prison. Fred Neulander, 82, was pronounced dead at Capital Health Regional Medical Center earlier this week. The cause of his death has not been released.
Neulander was serving a life sentence for the 1994 murder of his wife, Carol Neulander, who was found bludgeoned to death in their Cherry Hill home. The case gained widespread attention due to the scandalous details surrounding Neulander’s motive for the murder – to be with his mistress, Elaine Soncini.
The former rabbi had vehemently denied his involvement in his wife’s murder but admitted to having an extramarital affair. Neulander’s affair was at the center of the murder trial, where witness testimonies revealed that he had orchestrated the killing of his wife to be with Soncini.
The tragic incident unfolded when Neulander hired hitmen to carry out the murder, staging the crime scene to look like a robbery. Despite his attempts to cover up the murder, investigators found discrepancies in the crime scene that did not align with a typical robbery.
Neulander’s legacy as the founding rabbi of Congregation M’kor Shalom in Cherry Hill was tarnished by the scandal. The congregation eventually closed in 2022 after merging with another synagogue in the area. Neulander’s actions not only led to the loss of life but also caused significant upheaval within the community he once served.
In 2012, Neulander expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging the devastating impact of his behavior on his marriage. He admitted to his selfish and arrogant conduct, stating that he would carry the burden of his actions for the rest of his life.
The deaths of Fred Neulander and his wife, Carol, mark a tragic chapter in the history of Cherry Hill. The repercussions of his actions continue to reverberate within the community, serving as a cautionary tale of the destructive consequences of betrayal and deceit.