Human Remains Found In Jackson, Pemberton Man Indicted For Murder

OCEAN COUNTY – Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced on August 2 the indictment of a Pemberton man for the murder Cody MacPherson back in March of this year.

Alan McGinnis of Pemberton was indicted on six counts for MacPherson’s murder. MacPherson’s body was found on March 19 in the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area.

On March 19, Jackson Police responded to Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area after a call from a District Warden with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, Richard Byrne. Byrne stumbled across MacPherson’s remains and a human skull while conducting a controlled burn.

MacPherson was reported missing on September 24, 2017 by Pemberton Police Detectives.

After the remains were discovered, initial identification deemed that the remains were most likely those of MacPherson, according to Coronato.

A post-mortem exam showed the cause of death to be a stab wound to the left abdomen, ruling his death a homicide. Dental x-rays helped officials to confirm the remains were, in fact, MacPherson. This was confirmed by DNA analysis and reported to NJ State Police in April 2018.

An ensuing investigation found that during the early hours of September 24, 2017, McGinnis allegedly stabbed MacPherson multiple times at 234 Pardee Blvd in Pemberton. The Prosecutor’s office stated that McGinnis used a vehicle from that resident to transport MacPherson’s body to Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area on South Stump Tavern Road.

McGinnis allegedly returned to the Pemberton residence to clean all evidence of the murder and later returned to Colliers Mills to destroy any remaining evidence.

McGinnis is now lodged in the Ocean County Jail.