Few Clues Emerge into Housesitter's Fatal Shooting

Authorities remained tightlipped Tuesday about an investigation into the fatal shooting last week of a 54-year-old woman who was housesitting in Gloucester Township.

One new detail did emerge this week, however. Camden County Prosecutor's Office spokesman Jason Laughlin said police were called to the residence on Mayfair Drive near Johnson Road Friday by a friend who found the victim. 

The friend found Kathleen Korbel dead from multiple gunshot wounds shortly after 5 p.m. Friday.

A memorial service for Korbel will be held on Sunday at the McGuinness Funeral Home in Woodbury. An obituary there said: "Kathy enjoyed a fun and adventurous life. A true “Jersey Girl” Kathy loved the shore especially Wildwood...Her love of animals inspired her to become a pet sitter; a job she did with great compassion and love for her four legged friends."

Few other details on the criminal investigation have been released.

Gloucester Township police Chief Harry Earle declined to comment Monday about the case, referring all questions to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office. The prosecutor is the lead investigator in all homicides in the county.

NJ.com reported Saturday that a neighbor near the home said a police source told him the killing was targeted.

Fox 29 TV Philadelphia reported Saturday that a "source" told them "there is a trail of blood in the living room, and the office appears as if it had been ransacked. The safe was left empty and wide open."

Authorities refused to comment on either of these accounts, or to identify a suspect of motive for Korbel's death.

Korbel's shooting is the third criminal investigation into deaths here since June. 

The remains of Carol Reiff were found in a wooded area of the Lakeview Apartments on Lower Landing Road on June 24. There is a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest for her unsolved death.

Lamar Ortiz, 20, was gunned down on July 15 outside of his residence at the Autumn Ridge Apartments on Little Gloucester Road. A 16-year-old Edgewater Park boy was arrested and charged in the killing.