Police Officer Murders His Wife-Remains on Job Until he is Charged?
Well, I really thought I'd seen everything, until now. New Jersey Police sergeant Robert Vanaman on May 11, 2006, allegedly in self defense shoots and kills his wife. He was a trained police officer that would make a big difference you would think, when a person is defending themselves. This is most interesting the sergeant doesn't have to talk to anyone under the advice of his lawyer. He hasn't been charged as of yet because the case is still under investigation. He is currently on sick leave taking full pay. Once his "wounds" heal he can return to active duty. And then we can all throw a welcome back party upon his return. Yippee...PLEASE SPARE ME THE GARBAGE . He'll have plenty of time now no matter what the outcome to get his story straight. I have been involved with too many officer related cases to know and smell something rotten ........... According to ---
the Chief..."Rob has been a good city employee, and this situation really hurts," Police Chief Ronald J. Harvey said during a visit to the Vanaman house Friday afternoon. "Words cannot really describe how traumatic this whole experience has been."...
The Officer is under no restrictions, he is free to go and travel and do as he wishes. The sad reality of this tragic situation is there was domestic violence in their home and Officer Vanaman has an angry violent temper according to phones calls I received last week on this case. And Barbara was very fearful of her Police Officer Husband.
EXCERPTS FROM ARTICLE BELOW:
...HE AGREED TO HAND OVER HAIR AND BLOOD SAMPLES, COPIES OF HIS MEDICAL RECORDS, AND ANYTHING ELSE THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE MIGHT NEED. THE ONLY THING HE WON'T GIVE IS AN ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK. "HE WANTS TO TELL THE PROSECUTOR AND THE POLICE WHAT HAPPENED, BUT HE'S NOT BECAUSE I ADVISED HIM NOT TO," O'NEILL SAID. "PEOPLE WHO ARE EMOTIONALLY DISTRAUGHT COULD SAY THINGS THAT COULD BE TAKEN DIFFERENTLY THAN THEY WOULD IF THEY HAD THEIR WITS ABOUT THEM...
...HIS LAWYER CLAIMED THE POLICE SERGEANT HAS NOT RETURNED TO HIS WEDGEWOOD COURT HOME, WHERE LESS THAN A WEEK AGO HIS WIFE WAS SHOT AND HE WAS STABBED "MANY TIMES IN THE CHEST, STOMACH, ARMS, FINGERS AND HANDS." THE VICTIM WAS SHOT IN SELF-DEFENSE, ACCORDING TO O'NEILL...
...VANAMAN CAN RETURN TO WORK ONCE HIS STAB WOUNDS ARE HEALED AND HE'S EMOTIONALLY READY, O'NEILL STATED... BUT EVEN WHEN VANAMAN IS HEALED PHYSICALLY, THE REALITY IS IT MIGHT BE SOME TIME UNTIL HE'S READY TO GO BACK TO WORK, ACCORDING TO O'NEILL. HIS EMOTIONAL WOUNDS MAY TAKE LONGER TO HEAL THAN HIS PHYSICAL ONES, O'NEILL EXPLAINED. "(ROBERT'S) VERY, VERY UPSET," HE SAID. "HE'S SO UPSET THAT IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET HIM TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED."
MILLVILLE POLICE OFFICER ROBERT VANAMAN
May 11, 2006
[NJ] News reports: Millville Officer kills wife after she stabbed him
[NJ] News reports: Millville Officer kills wife after she stabbed him
May 12, 2006
[NJ] Officer Vanaman's killing of wife Barbara under investigation
...Cumberland County Prosecutor Ronald Casella says no charges have been filed against the officer, 37-year-old Robert Vanaman. But the case remains under investigation... Robert Vanaman was admitted to the hospital for treatment of his wounds. But further details about his injuries were not disclosed...
[NJ] Officer Vanaman's killing of wife Barbara under investigation
...Cumberland County Prosecutor Ronald Casella says no charges have been filed against the officer, 37-year-old Robert Vanaman. But the case remains under investigation... Robert Vanaman was admitted to the hospital for treatment of his wounds. But further details about his injuries were not disclosed...
May 13, 2006
[NJ] Sgt. Vanaman got a lawyer & quiet about killing wife Barbara
...Prosecutors are still unable to determine how Sgt. Robert Vanaman suffered multiple stab wounds Thursday evening at his home on South Wedgewood Court. They also haven't been able to interview the 15-year-veteran of the Millville Police Department because he remains hospitalized and now has a lawyer... Prosecutors would not comment on whether they had a history of domestic violence, but one group of neighbors said there were domestic problems in the past...
[NJ] Sgt. Vanaman got a lawyer & quiet about killing wife Barbara
...Prosecutors are still unable to determine how Sgt. Robert Vanaman suffered multiple stab wounds Thursday evening at his home on South Wedgewood Court. They also haven't been able to interview the 15-year-veteran of the Millville Police Department because he remains hospitalized and now has a lawyer... Prosecutors would not comment on whether they had a history of domestic violence, but one group of neighbors said there were domestic problems in the past...
May 16, 2006
[NJ] "Everybody knew Barbara" - (In lieu of flowers - $ for her kids)
..."Anytime someone as young as Barbara passes, it's a shock - But when I think about how much life and vivaciousness she possessed, it's just too hard to bear."... Instead of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Vanaman Children's Relief Fund, c/o Eric Spinnato, 1460 South East Ave., Vineland, N.J. 08360...
[NJ] "Everybody knew Barbara" - (In lieu of flowers - $ for her kids)
..."Anytime someone as young as Barbara passes, it's a shock - But when I think about how much life and vivaciousness she possessed, it's just too hard to bear."... Instead of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Vanaman Children's Relief Fund, c/o Eric Spinnato, 1460 South East Ave., Vineland, N.J. 08360...
May 17, 2006
[NJ] Barbara's memorial. Husband, Officer Vanaman, still not talking
...Meanwhile, her husband, Robert, a Millville Police sergeant, has been released from the hospital, but is still not speaking with detectives...
[NJ] Barbara's memorial. Husband, Officer Vanaman, still not talking
...Meanwhile, her husband, Robert, a Millville Police sergeant, has been released from the hospital, but is still not speaking with detectives...
May 19, 2006
[NJ] No charges for Officer Vanaman as wife Barbara is buried.
...“He wants to tell his story, the facts of what happened, to everyone,” O'Neill said, adding that the reason Robert Vanaman wants to make clear what happened is because he loved his wife. O'Neill said his client is still very distraught over what transpired that evening, so much so that Robert Vanaman has a difficult time explaining the events...
[NJ] No charges for Officer Vanaman as wife Barbara is buried.
...“He wants to tell his story, the facts of what happened, to everyone,” O'Neill said, adding that the reason Robert Vanaman wants to make clear what happened is because he loved his wife. O'Neill said his client is still very distraught over what transpired that evening, so much so that Robert Vanaman has a difficult time explaining the events...
Barbara Vanaman mourned
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
By MATT DUNN
MILLVILLE -- Family members, friends and acquaintances of Barbara Vanaman gathered Tuesday night at Christy Funeral Home to pay respect to a person many described as a devoted mother and wonder woman.
She was shot to death during a domestic dispute at her home last Thursday.
Cars lined Broad Street as those who knew Barbara Vanaman, 37, embraced and comforted each other.
Cars lined Broad Street as those who knew Barbara Vanaman, 37, embraced and comforted each other.
Her funeral will be held today at St. Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church at Buck and Depot streets.
Karin Shaffer, Barbara's mother, is asking anyone with stories or thoughts about her daughter to write them down and send these letters of remembrance to the Shaffer's home at 12 N. 14th St., Millville, N.J. 08332.
The family is hoping to save these letters, so they can be read by her children and relatives.
Robert Vanaman still is not speaking to detectives on the advice of his lawyer, Joseph O'Neill, of Vineland, in the wake of the fatal dispute that claimed his wife's life.
The only thing he won't give is an account of what happened last week.
"He wants to tell the prosecutor and the police what happened, but he's not because I advised him not to," O'Neill said. "People who are emotionally distraught could say things that could be taken differently than they would if they had their wits about them.
"I never let anyone talk, even if they're 100 percent innocent," he added.
O'Neill said if Vanaman is charged and his case goes to trial, only then will he tell his side of the story.
In the meantime, the police sergeant is under no obligation to speak to anyone.
Her death is being investigated as a homicide.
However, charges have not been filed against the 37-year-old Wedgewood Court resident and veteran Millville Police Department sergeant.
Casella said on Monday that the investigation being conducted by the prosecutor's office has a long way to go.
Vanaman can return to work once his stab wounds are healed and he's emotionally ready, O'Neill stated.
The 15-year veteran of the Millville Police Department is currently on sick leave, Police Chief Ron Harvey confirmed on Monday.
His responsibilities at his job include overseeing the computers and technological components of the station and supervision the dispatchers and records division.
But even when Vanaman is healed physically, the reality is it might be some time until he's ready to go back to work, according to O'Neill.
His emotional wounds may take longer to heal than his physical ones, O'Neill explained.
