The Disappearance and Murder of Mrs. Stuart
The events leading up to the discovery of a tragedy in Princeton began on a quiet Sunday, April 2, 1989. What started as a routine day of church services and gardening for Mrs. Stuart ended in a mysterious disappearance and a grim discovery that would leave a family and a community searching for answers.
The Final Day: Sunday, April 2
Mrs. Stuart's final day began with a visit to Trinity Church, located directly across from her residence. Following the service, she shared breakfast at 9:00 a.m. with her sister, Margaretta Cowenhoven. By 10:00 a.m., Stuart had begun gardening, and her sister departed.
Throughout the afternoon, Stuart had two notable interactions. At 12:30 p.m., her friend Doris Mellinger visited, and the two spent time drinking Bloody Marys until Mellinger left at 1:15 p.m. Later, around 4:30 p.m., Stuart was seen gardening again when she waved to Elias "Bloxy" Baker, a local business owner driving to his lumberyard. Baker would later be identified as one of the last people to see her alive.
Meanwhile, her son, Jeb Stuart, spent the day at a beach house in Bay Head with his family. At 6:00 p.m., Jeb and his daughter, Laurie, visited the Town Topics parking lot in Princeton to retrieve a car and keys borrowed by Jeb's son, Craig. They returned to their home in Hopewell Township by 6:30 p.m. Sheila Stuart and her mother also returned to Hopewell at dusk after window shopping.
The First Signs of Trouble
The following day, Monday, Jeb Stuart walked from the Town Topics offices at 4 Mercer Street to his mother's home for their customary lunch at 1:20 p.m.
![The Town Topics office building at 4 Mercer Street, where Jeb and Sheila Stuart worked at the time, was only a two-minute walk from the murder scene.[7]](/images/39/2a/392a46ae8b77394ea16bfbbe9db96464d04ce4263a48442148c28e12e9ba0adb.jpg)
Upon entering with his own key, Jeb noticed several unsettling details: the side door to the back porch was ajar, the storm door was unlocked, and a copy of The New York Times lay discarded on the porch. Despite these incongruities, Jeb initially assumed his mother had simply forgotten to lock the door upon leaving.
Jeb searched the house and the yard. He checked the basement access, noting that the interior hallway door was locked and the exterior black wooden door—which usually remained unlocked for easy access to gardening tools—was also locked. Jeb later explained that he feared his mother might have suffered a medical emergency, such as a heart attack, but he could not bring himself to descend the stairs at that moment.
The Evening Search
After eating a sandwich and locking the side door, Jeb returned to work. Sheila Stuart entered the house at 3:30 p.m. to search for her mother-in-law but found nothing. The couple returned at 6:30 p.m., discovering Stuart's coat in the living room and her purse on the floor, seemingly undisturbed.
Despite a suggestion from Doris Mellinger to check the basement, the couple declined, believing the area was secure since Jeb had found the doors locked. Jeb contacted the hospital and the police; however, neither had any information. He declined a police patrol car and the couple returned to Hopewell, leaving a light on for Stuart.
The Grim Discovery
On Tuesday morning, the situation escalated. At 8:30 a.m., Margaretta Cowenhoven, Jeb, and Sheila gathered at the house. Sheila noted a 10:30 a.m. doctor's appointment on Stuart's calendar. When the doctor called to report that Stuart had missed the appointment, Jeb and Sheila went to the police station.
At 10:38 a.m., they reported Stuart missing to Sergeant Anthony V. Federico. While they were at the station, Cowenhoven and the housemaid conducted their own search. At 10:50 a.m., they used a skeleton key to unlock the basement hallway door. Upon descending the stairs, they discovered Mrs. Stuart's body on the basement floor.
Police arrived within one minute. Sergeant Federico found the victim lying face down on her right side, her eyeglasses still clutched in her right hand. She was dressed in gardening clothes: a beige cardigan over another sweater, Lee jeans, and blue plimsolls. While blood was found on her back, her Seiko watch was still on her wrist and showed the correct time. No weapons were found at the scene, and her gardening tools remained organized in their proper places.
Key Facts
- Last Seen: Waved to Elias "Bloxy" Baker around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 2, 1989.
- Discovery: Found Tuesday morning at 10:50 a.m. by her sister and maid.
- Location: The basement of her Princeton residence.
- Evidence: Victim was found in gardening attire with eyeglasses in hand; no weapons were present.
- Timeline: Reported missing at 10:38 a.m. Tuesday, shortly before the body was found.
| Date/Time | Event | Key Individuals |
|---|---|---|
| April 2, 9:00 AM | Breakfast at home | Mrs. Stuart, Margaretta Cowenhoven |
| April 2, 1:15 PM | Social visit ends | Mrs. Stuart, Doris Mellinger |
| April 2, 4:30 PM | Last confirmed sighting | Mrs. Stuart, Elias Baker |
| April 3, 1:20 PM | First signs of disappearance | Jeb Stuart |
| April 4, 10:38 AM | Official missing person report | Jeb & Sheila Stuart, Sgt. Federico |
| April 4, 10:50 AM | Body discovered in basement | Margaretta Cowenhoven, Maid |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the last person to see Mrs. Stuart alive?
Elias "Bloxy" Baker, a local business owner, saw Mrs. Stuart waving to him from her garden around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 2.
Why wasn't the body found on Monday?
Jeb Stuart found the basement doors locked from both the interior and exterior. Believing the space was secure and fearing a medical emergency he couldn't face, he did not descend the stairs.
What evidence was found at the scene?
The victim was found face down in gardening clothes with her eyeglasses in her hand and her watch still on her wrist. Blood was present on her back, but no weapons were found, and her tools were undisturbed.
How was the body eventually discovered?
On Tuesday morning, Margaretta Cowenhoven and the housemaid used a skeleton key to enter the basement, where they found the body at the bottom of the stairs.
What prompted the family to report her missing?
Sheila Stuart noticed a doctor's appointment on the calendar for Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. When the doctor called to confirm Mrs. Stuart had not arrived, the family contacted the police.