Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery

New Jersey politics is not for the faint of heart. But the brutal killing of John and Joyce Sheridan, a prominent couple with personal ties to three governors, shocks even the most cynical operatives. The mystery surrounding the crime sends their son on a quest for truth. Dead End is a story of crime and corruption at the highest levels of society in the Garden State.

On a quiet cul-de-sac, a husband and wife of 47 years are stabbed to death in the stillness of dawn. Honest and unassuming, John Sheridan, famous for never raising his voice, played against type in the rough-and-tumble world of New Jersey politics. Could the Republican lobbyist have killed his wife Joyce—a veteran public school teacher and no-nonsense mother of four sons—then set their bedroom on fire before knifing himself? That’s the version of events authorities say happened in the early morning hours of September 28, 2014. But, in more ways than one, the theory doesn’t add up.

Key voices interviewed in episode:

Christine Todd Whitman, former Governor Chris Stevens, Joyce Sheridan’s best friend Bob Stevens, husband of Chris’ Stevens Mark Sheridan, eldest of the Sheridans’ four sons, lawyer for Governor Chris Christie's campaign and for the state Republican party for more than a decade Peter Sheridan, John’s younger brother and federal judge in Trenton since 2005 Mary Kay Roberts, hired by John Sheridan at Riker Danzig, a New Jersey law firm. Worked with him closely for a decade in the Trenton office John Farmer, a former state Attorney General and friend of John Sheridan who runs a political research center at Rutgers University

The Sheridans’ eldest son Mark is consumed with getting to the bottom of what happened to his parents. As the lawyer for Governor Chris Christie’s election campaign, Mark is in a unique position to uncover answers. Instead, he’s met with roadblock after roadblock. The questions really pile up when he learns that detectives haven’t even interviewed several key witnesses or completed a thorough investigation of the crime scene. Not only that, a key piece of evidence is missing.

New voices interviewed in episode:

Barry Jansen, retired forensic technician for the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Tom Draper, Sheridans’ neighbor Michael Baden, medical examiner hired by the Sheridan brothers

The knife used to kill John Sheridan is just the first of many clues casting doubt on law enforcement’s conclusion of murder suicide. A newspaper crime reporter, a veteran homicide detective out of Philly, and a whistleblower point to significant pieces of evidence that have been disregarded—even thrown into a dumpster. Although Mark has the state attorney general and the county prosecutor on direct dial, he still gets stonewalled. The authorities assure the political insider that his parents had a dark secret, which will eventually come to light. Mark isn’t convinced. Instead, as he goes through his parent’s papers, he stumbles into a different fight.

New voices interviewed in episode:

• Barbara Boyer, reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer

• Eddie Rocks, veteran homicide detective, retired from the Philadelphia police.

• Lawrence Kobilinski, professor emeritus, department of sciences at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York

• Professor Keith Taylor, professor, Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration, John Jay College of Criminal Justice (and a former NYPD detective)

John Sheridan’s decision to go work at Cooper University Hospital came at a curious time. It was just months after news about the Palmyra tapes came out. The tapes caught George Norcross bullying and offering a favor to a small town official; they are a rare instance where evidence emerged of the rough and tumble side to the south Jersey political machine. An email shows Norcross' control over the state legislature and city council members in Camden explain what it means to be a "yes yes" person.

• Kelly Francis, union organizer and Camden activist

• Kevin Riordan, Philadelphia Inquirer reporter who has covered south Jersey off and on for the past 45 years

• Micah Rasmussen, director of Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Ryder University

• Tom Knoche, lecturer at Rutgers University in Camden

• Matt Katz, reporter at WNYC

• Shaneka Boucher, Camden City Councilwoman

• Marilyn Torres, Camden City Councilwoman

• Jeffrey Brenner, doctor who worked and lived in Camden during its worst years