Man arrested for Lumberton woman's strangling death

LUMBERTON, N.J. (WPVI) -- A man is now under arrest, accused of killing a Lumberton, New Jersey woman inside her own home last year.

William Gennett, 53, was arrested for the July, 2016 murder of 45-year-old Shanon O'Rourke.

"It is a lot of relief, a lot of relief around here that this was solved," said neighbor Tom Long.

A motive is still being investigated but police say they discovered Gennett was using a cell phone app that allowed him to track O'Rourke without her knowledge.

Gennett is accused of strangling O'Rourke with his bare hands. Police say the crime happened inside of her home located along Nassau Road.

Neighbors described Gennett as a friendly person.

"We were hoping it was not him. We were really, really were hoping it was not him," said neighbor Debra Toutant.

"When I found out I was in tears because she was such a sweet woman and I could look from my door into her living room and I could do that the day I found her," said Toutant.

Neighbors say the news of O'Rourke's death was terrifying, heartbreaking and difficult to deal with.

"My daughter's final memory of her is that they were making rain angels in the drive, which I had never heard of, but they were making rain angels," Toutant continued.

Many are hoping that the arrest of Gennett will provide some closure for her family and reveal answers as to why she was murdered.

"It was really hard for me and my kids and my husband to think it was right across the street. You never know, it could be anybody," Toutant said.

Gennett is charged with first-degree murder.

Gennett is a resident of Tabernacle, where he was arrested.