Prosecutors say a 71-year-old father admitted strangling his 40-year-old daughter after an incident involving bedwetting.
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, N.J. — A New Jersey man has been charged with murder after authorities say he strangled his disabled adult daughter in their family home and later told his wife that the woman was dead. Prosecutors allege the killing occurred early Thursday morning in Gloucester County.
Authorities identified the suspect as Dennis Hall, 71, and the victim as his daughter, Devin Hall, 40. Prosecutors said Hall was initially charged with attempted murder after emergency responders found the victim unresponsive. The case escalated to a murder charge after she was removed from life support and pronounced dead the following day. The death has drawn attention because of the victim’s severe disabilities and the circumstances described by family members and investigators.
According to investigators, the events unfolded shortly after 6 a.m. at the family’s residence on East Avenue in Franklin Township, about 30 miles south of Philadelphia. The home was shared by Dennis Hall, his wife Jan Hall, and their daughter Devin Hall. Family members said Devin was nonverbal and relied on a wheelchair. Jan Hall said she was asleep when her husband woke her and delivered a shocking statement. “I strangled Devin. She’s dead,” he allegedly told her. Jan Hall later said she initially believed she had misunderstood what she heard. Moments later, she found her daughter in critical condition and attempted lifesaving measures while emergency assistance was summoned.
Investigators said Dennis Hall called 911 and reported that his daughter was not breathing. Prosecutors allege he admitted strangling her during the emergency call and repeated that admission to responding officers. Emergency personnel transported Devin Hall to a hospital, where doctors worked to save her life. Despite those efforts, authorities said she was taken off life support and died the next day. An autopsy later determined that the immediate cause of death was asphyxiation and ruled the manner of death a homicide. Prosecutors subsequently upgraded the case from attempted murder to first-degree murder. Authorities have not publicly released additional details about the exact duration of the assault or whether any other physical evidence was recovered inside the residence.
Statements from Jan Hall offered a glimpse into what may have preceded the alleged attack. She told reporters that her daughter had wet the bed and said she wished her husband had awakened her instead of handling the situation alone. “He had an opportunity to come in and get me,” she said, adding that she could have helped care for their daughter. Family members described Devin Hall as someone who faced significant physical challenges throughout her life. In an obituary, relatives remembered her as a gentle and kind person whose presence touched many people. The family’s descriptions painted a picture of a woman who depended heavily on those around her for daily care and support.
The case has also raised questions about Dennis Hall’s mental health before the incident. Jan Hall said her husband had struggled with mental health issues during the past year and had been receiving treatment for depression. She said she had worried that something tragic could happen, though she did not publicly elaborate on specific concerns or prior incidents. Investigators have not announced whether mental health evaluations have been requested or whether defense attorneys plan to pursue any mental-health-related arguments. At this stage, authorities have focused on the statements Hall allegedly made before and after emergency responders arrived. Prosecutors have not indicated whether additional charges could be filed or whether other family members may be called as key witnesses.
Neighbors and community members have begun grappling with the loss while family members prepare for funeral services and court proceedings. Jan Hall described the aftermath as overwhelming and difficult to process. “It’s like hell. I feel like I’m walking in a nightmare,” she said. Her comments reflected the shock surrounding a case that unfolded inside a home where the family had long cared for an adult daughter with extensive needs. As news of the allegations spread, attention shifted from the emergency response to the broader questions of what occurred inside the residence during the hours before the 911 call. Those answers may emerge through court filings, witness testimony, and future hearings.
For now, Dennis Hall remains jailed while prosecutors pursue the murder case. Authorities have not announced a court date, and no public timeline has been released for future hearings. Investigators say the homicide inquiry remains active as prosecutors continue preparing the case for judicial review.
Author note: Last updated June 17, 2026.