Police: Ex-employee shot man to death inside Burlington County home

TABERNACLE, N.J. (WPVI) -- Police say a Pemberton Township man shot and killed his former employer, whose body was found inside a Burlington County home.

David M. Stead, 42, is facing multiple charges including first-degree murder, first-degree felony murder, robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon in the second degree and related charges.

Troopers were called around 4:30 p.m. Friday to a residence on the 100 block of Patty Bowker Road in Tabernacle.

Upon arrival, they found 49-year-old Thomas Wright II shot to death.

An investigation revealed Stead, a former employee of Wright, shot and killed the victim inside his home.

Police say Stead went to the home to rob Wright, but instead shot the victim multiple times in the head and neck. He then fled the scene with a small amount of cash in a rented pickup truck being used by Wright.

The truck was located Sunday night less than a mile away from Stead's home, police say.

Police say Wright operated a business out of his home. His family went to check on him after he failed to show up at a job site that day.

His father called police after finding Wright dead inside the victim's home.

Stead is being held on $1 million bond in the Burlington County Jail.

Wright would have celebrated his 50th birthday in July.