Arrest in murder of woman whose body found in suitcase

PLEASANTVILLE, N.J. (WPVI) -- A Pleasantville man has been arrested and charged with murder of a woman whose remains were found inside a suitcase in Egg Harbor Township seven months ago.

Steven Stallworth, 27, has been charged with Murder and Desecration of Human Remains, Atlantic County Acting Prosecutor Jim McLain said.

His bail was set $2,000,000.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. on January 5th, a hunter found the remains of 30-year-old Tara Rogers-Alicea inside a suitcase in the woods behind the Shore Mall site near Broadway Avenue.

The hunter, who is a municipal police officer in Atlantic County, immediately notified authorities and reported the discovery.

Rogers-Alicea, a mother of three from Monroeville, NJ, was identified within days of her body's recovery.

The cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation by strangulation.

Her death was ruled a homicide.

Anyone with information pertaining to this case is asked to call the Atlantic County Major Crimes Unit at 609-909-7666.