Suspect charged after missing Gloucester Twp. woman found murdered

GLOUCESTER TWP., N.J. -- A suspect has been charged in the death of a woman from Gloucester Township, Camden County who had been missing since last week.

Miguel Angel Diaz, 30, with a last known address in Mount Laurel, is charged with first-degree murder.

The body of 59-year-old Susan Johnson was found in a wooded area near the 5000 block of Commonwealth Drive in Evesham Township, Burlington County on Friday morning, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

Investigators believe Johnson was beaten to death in her home on Skyline Drive on December 5th and her body was later dumped.

Police say an argument started over money.

"During the course of that money dispute the argument escalated until something physical. She was actually beaten with his fist and possibly another object the witness was not able to identify," said Sgt. Terry King of the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

The investigation had initially centered on two persons of interest, a man and a woman. The man is now identified as Diaz while the woman, who led police to the body, is not being charged.

Friends of the victim said Johnson had invited Diaz and the woman - who were homeless - to live with her, but was planning to ask them to move out.

Miguel Diaz and the female witness were co-workers of the victim at a cleaning business.

"We have a good Samaritan try to take somebody in, especially around the holidays. Unortunately, this is how it ended - with her loss of life" said Capt. Anthony Minosse of the Gloucester Twp Police Dept.

"The gentleman that was there, if you want to call him that, was not very nice person to her. He showed her no respect and this was her home," said Mary Crain.

Crain showed us a joking text message she sent to Johnson on Tuesday, saying "Was wondering, did you move? Where have you been?"

By that point, police say, Johnson had been dead for days.