Edna White | Homicide Watch Trentonhttp://trenton.homicidewatch.org/suspects/edna-white/Latest news about Edna Whiteen-usThu, 14 Jan 2016 13:14:18 -0500Trenton woman who killed second ex-boyfriend gets fewer years than for first homicidehttp://trenton.homicidewatch.org/2016/01/14/trenton-woman-who-killed-second-ex-boyfriend-gets-fewer-years-than-for-first-homicide/<p class="p1"><span class="s1">A wheel-chair-bound Edna White had suffered a stroke and the elevator from the holding cell leading to Courtroom 2C was out of commission, forcing a cadre of sheriff’s officers to maneuver her past reporters in the courtroom gallery and shuffle chairs to get her situated for sentencing.</span></p> <a href="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/trenton/files/2014/02/Edna-White.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1463" src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/trenton/files/2014/02/Edna-White-240x300.jpg" alt="Edna White" width="240" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Edna White</p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">“We played musical chairs,” one of the sheriff’s officers said. “You won, Ms. White.”</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">That wasn’t the only prize for White, 58, on Thursday inside Mercer County Superior Court. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">While she didn’t win her freedom, she effectively beat murder charges, and with it, a life sentence.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">White pleaded guilty in November to a lesser count of aggravated manslaughter for fatally stabbing her former boyfriend and father of her child, Dwelle Jerome Clark, on Feb. 14, 2014, during an argument over $20 at his mother’s boarding home.</span><span id="more-3895"></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">White’s second aggravated manslaughter conviction netted her less time in state prison than for killing another former boyfriend in 1980. She was sentenced to 15 years in the slammer for that crime, which bore a striking resemblance to the slaying of Clark.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Judge Robert Billmeier handed down a 12-year sentence, more than the 10 years White’s attorney argued for but less than the 13 years prosecutors wanted. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">“You would think she would know the consequences of stabbing someone,” Billmeier said, noting her previous homicide conviction. “I can’t forget the fact she killed someone in the past.” </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">White, who has been jailed for nearly two years, must serve more than 10 years of her sentence under the state’s No Early Release Act before she is eligible for parole. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Without the benefit of a plea deal that capped her exposure time to 13 years, White faced 30 years for aggravated manslaughter.</span></p> <p>Casey DeBlasio, spokeswoman for the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office, clarified after The Trentonian published its story that White only spent five years in prison for the 1980 homicide. Assistant Prosecutor James Scott did not mention that at White's sentencing.</p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">White was raised by abusive adoptive parents and struggled with an addiction to alcohol and crack cocaine and she said the abuse extended to her romantic life. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">White contended she and Clark began arguing when he burst into her room while she was preparing clothes for church. He accused her of stealing money from her mother after he watched her slip a wallet under the mattress, then turned violent, White said.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">After Clark allegedly slapped her, White said she “flashed back” to the times he beat her while they were dating. She fell on the floor, gathered herself and retrieved a seven-inch knife from the mantle, intending to scare Clark away. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">White contends when Clark lunged at her “he came into the knife.”</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">“I hope [Clark’s] mother can forgive me,” White said. “I just want to get on with my life and do this time … and be a better person.”</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Calling the case against his client a “close legal call” and an “aggravated assault gone bad,” defense attorney Patrick O’Hara said his client reacted poorly in a “highly charged” situation. He couldn’t put up a self-defense claim, but O’Hara said Clark’s conduct led to the violence, in what amounted to blame-the-victim rhetoric.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">The defense attorney told the judge sending White to jail for decades was foolhardy because she is infirmed and because a longer jail sentence “will not have a longer deterring effect.”</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">“She’s been to prison before,” O’Hara said.</span></p> Isaac AviluceaThu, 14 Jan 2016 13:14:18 -0500http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/2016/01/14/trenton-woman-who-killed-second-ex-boyfriend-gets-fewer-years-than-for-first-homicide/Dwelle Jerome ClarkEdna WhiteTrenton woman who admitted killing boyfriend to get no more than 13 years in prisonhttp://trenton.homicidewatch.org/2015/11/30/trenton-woman-who-admitted-killing-boyfriend-to-get-no-more-than-13-years-in-prison/<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Edna White showed no remorse inside an empty criminal courtroom in Mercer County, coldly admitting stabbing her former boyfriend to death nearly 22 months ago.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">“I’m guilty,” she told Judge Robert Billmeier on Monday. “So what else can I do?”</span></p> <a href="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/trenton/files/2014/02/Edna-White.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1463" src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/trenton/files/2014/02/Edna-White-240x300.jpg" alt="Edna White" width="240" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Edna White</p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">White, 57, was charged with murder for stabbing Dwelle Jerome Clark to death Feb. 14, 2014. She pleaded guilty to an open count of aggravated manslaughter, and the most time she can be sentenced to is 13 years under terms of a capped plea deal limiting her exposure time. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">She would be eligible for parole in roughly 11 years if the judge hands down the maximum time allowed under terms of the plea deal, and she already has nearly two years of jail credits. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Still, Patrick O’Hara, White’s attorney, plans to argue for less time than that, although he did not say in open court how little time he would argue for. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Whatever sentence the judge imposes, White must serve five years of parole supervision once she is released. </span><span id="more-3797"></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">For White, who could have spent the remainder of her days in state prison had she taken her case to trial and been convicted by a jury of murder, it seemed like a steal of a deal. None of Clark’s family members were in court for the plea.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Sitting in a wheelchair with her hair pulled back into tight, short cornrows, White seemed more interested in getting the plea over with than showing any sort of contrition for her actions. </span></p> <a href="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/trenton/files/2014/02/Dwelle-Clark-and-daughter.png"><img class="wp-image-1448 size-medium" src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/trenton/files/2014/02/Dwelle-Clark-and-daughter-298x300.png" alt="Dwelle Clark and daughter" width="298" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Dwelle Clark and daughter</p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">She appeared more upset her sentence would not be imposed in time for Christmas so she can be transferred to a state prison for women rather than remaining at the county jail where she has been held on bail since she was charged with causing Clark’s death.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">“I don’t want no sentence,” she told her attorney. “I just wanna be out of the county. I don’t wanna be around that stuff.”</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">White spoke cavalierly before the judge took the bench and was overheard telling O’Hara about a family member who had allegedly just gotten jammed up for stealing credit cards.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">“I wouldn’t do that,” she said.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Her outrage over the theft charges appeared misplaced given that this is White’s second conviction for aggravated manslaughter. White stabbed a previous boyfriend to death in 1980 and was sentenced to 15 years in prison for it.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">White said her spat with Clark, whom she had rekindled a relationship with while renting a room from his mother, had been brewing for three months when it came to a head over $20 dollars. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Witnesses have said White stabbed Clark after he caught her rummaging through his mother’s purse and told her to “stay out” of her belongings. Clark died at a hospital three days later.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">She admitted she went into her upstairs bedroom and retrieved a seven-inch knife laying on top of her dresser drawer. She admitted stabbing Clark once in the chest, in a manner that showed “extreme indifference for life.” But her admission came with a caveat as she stated she did so after Clark allegedly struck her.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">“I wasn’t thinking at the time,” she said. “I wanted him to get away from me.”</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">That led Billmeier to ask the woman’s attorney whether she was asserting a self-defense claim. O’Hara said his client wasn’t, and the plea deal went forward.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">White is expected to be sentenced in mid-January. </span></p> Isaac AviluceaMon, 30 Nov 2015 17:27:40 -0500http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/2015/11/30/trenton-woman-who-admitted-killing-boyfriend-to-get-no-more-than-13-years-in-prison/Dwelle Jerome ClarkEdna WhiteTrenton woman reaches likely plea deal in stabbing death of ex-boyfriendhttp://trenton.homicidewatch.org/2015/08/03/trenton-woman-reaches-likely-plea-deal-in-stabbing-death-of-ex-boyfriend/<a href="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/trenton/files/2014/02/Edna-White.jpg"><img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/trenton/files/2014/02/Edna-White-240x300.jpg" alt="Edna White" width="240" height="300" class="size-medium wp-image-1463" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Edna White</p> <p>A city woman accused of stabbing her ex-boyfriend to death in February 2014, in eerily similar fashion to a previous beau she killed decades ago, has reached a preliminary deal with prosecutors that would likely result in her pleading down to a lesser charge of aggravated manslaughter, her attorney said.</p> <p><a href="http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/suspects/edna-white/">Edna White</a>, 57, is charged with murder in the Feb. 15 stabbing death of 55-year-old <a href="http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/victims/dwelle-jerome-clark/">Dwelle Jerome Clark</a>.</p> <p>Witnesses said Clark was stabbed after he caught White rummaging through his mother’s purse and told her to “stay out” of her belongings. <span id="more-3483"></span></p> <p>White’s attorney, Patrick O’Hara, said he expects his client to plead guilty to a lesser charge of aggravated manslaughter, which would be her second conviction for such a crime.</p> <p>The attorney said he could not reveal terms of his client’s impending guilty plea until her Aug. 26 appearance, when she is expected to formally accept prosecutors’ offer.</p> <p>However, O’Hara did say he expected the plea deal would result in his client serving considerably less than the maximum 30 years for aggravated manslaughter.</p> <p>Prosecutors have apparently been willing to negotiate a plea deal with White because they lack a premeditated motive they would need to convict her of first-degree murder, her attorney said.</p> <p>O’Hara said he believes his infirmed client, who needed a wheelchair to get around her court appearance, will not die behind bars. He said “emotions were very high” for both parties at the time of the stabbing and his client regrets her actions.</p> <p>“I don’t think she was thinking of the results,” O’Hara said.</p> <p>This isn’t the first time White has killed a boyfriend.</p> <p>O’Hara confirmed his client served time in the past for aggravated manslaughter for stabbing a previous boyfriend to death in 1980.</p> <p>According to published reports, White was sentenced to 15 years in prison after she admitted using a steak knife to fatally stab the 39-year-old man in a situation mirroring Clark’s death.</p> <p>If his client had taken her case to trial, O’Hara said part of his legal strategy revolved around a self-defense claim.</p> <p>The ex-lovers, although they had not dated in 25 years, had rekindled a relationship and White had moved in with Clark’s family while she searched for a place to live, family members have said.</p> <p>During an argument, witnesses said, Clark, the victim, took away White’s cane and walked into his bedroom. White allegedly armed herself with a butcher knife, followed Clark into the bedroom and stabbed him in the chest, penetrating his lung, witnesses said.</p> <p>Cynthia White, the couple’s only child, previously told The Trentonian she believed her mother “snapped” when Clark took the cane from her.</p> <p>Clark was rushed to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries three days later.</p> <p>White remains jailed in lieu of $75,000 bail.</p> Isaac AviluceaMon, 03 Aug 2015 16:41:43 -0400http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/2015/08/03/trenton-woman-reaches-likely-plea-deal-in-stabbing-death-of-ex-boyfriend/Dwelle Jerome ClarkEdna WhiteEdna White indicted in connection with stabbing death of her ex-boyfriendhttp://trenton.homicidewatch.org/2014/11/03/edna-white-indicted-in-connection-with-stabbing-death-of-her-ex-boyfriend/<p>A city woman was indicted last week in connection with the fatal stabbing of her ex-boyfriend. </p> <p><a href="http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/suspects/edna-white/" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article-int', 'http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/suspects/edna-white/', 'Edna White']);" >Edna White</a>, 57, was indicted Friday on charges of murder, aggravated assault and related weapons offenses in connection with the death of 55-year-old <a href="http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/victims/dwelle-jerome-clark/" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article-int', 'http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/victims/dwelle-jerome-clark/', 'Dwelle Jerome Clark']);" >Dwelle Jerome Clark</a>.</p> <p>According to witnesses to the murder, on the evening of Feb. 15, White stabbed Clark in the chest after he caught her rummaging through his mother’s handbag. <span id="more-2178"></span></p> <p>Witnesses say that after Clark told White to “stay out of my mom’s things,” White began hitting him with a walking cane. Clark then took the cane away from White, according to witnesses, and then walked into his bedroom. White then grabbed a butcher knife from atop a dresser, followed Clark into his room and stabbed him in the chest, witnesses say.</p> <p>Clark was then rushed to Capital Health Regional Medical Center. He died three days later from a deep perforating stab wound to the chest that penetrated his lung.</p> <p>According to family members, Clark and White were ex-lovers who had not dated in 25 years. But White had recently moved in with Clark’s family while she searched for a new place to live.</p> <p>Clark and White’s only child, Cynthia White, has said that her mother is a drug addict who is trying to quit. She believes her mother may have “snapped” after Clark took the cane from her. Cynthia White also says her mother killed someone else more than 30 years ago, and that she served jail time for that offense.</p> <p>White remains in jail on $75,000 bail.</p> Penny RayMon, 03 Nov 2014 12:10:35 -0500http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/2014/11/03/edna-white-indicted-in-connection-with-stabbing-death-of-her-ex-boyfriend/Dwelle Jerome ClarkEdna WhiteAccused murderer Edna White held on $75,000 bailhttp://trenton.homicidewatch.org/2014/02/21/accused-murderer-edna-white-held-on-75000-bail/<p>A judge set the bail at $75,000 this morning for the woman who stabbed her former boyfriend to death after he caught her going through his mother’s handbag.</p> <p><a href="http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/suspects/edna-white/" >Edna White</a>, 56, appeared via video before Mercer Superior Court Mark Fleming, who the set bail on a charge of aggravated assault because the paperwork on upgraded murder charges was not complete.<br /> <span id="more-1470"></span><br /> <a href="http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/victims/dwelle-jerome-clark/" >Dwelle Jerome Clark</a> allegedly was stabbed in the stomach Saturday night. He died on Wednesday at a city hospital.</p> <p>White is likely to have higher bail set at another hearing next week, after the prosecutor upgrades the charges.</p> <p>A witness told The Trentonian the stabbing happened after Clark caught White rummaging through his mother’s pocketbook. </p> <p>His last words, before he was stabbed, were: "Stay out of my mom’s things."</p> Paul MickleFri, 21 Feb 2014 10:53:16 -0500http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/2014/02/21/accused-murderer-edna-white-held-on-75000-bail/Dwelle Jerome ClarkEdna WhiteDwelle Jerome Clark’s death ruled a homicidehttp://trenton.homicidewatch.org/2014/02/20/dwelle-jerome-clarks-death-ruled-a-homicide/<a href="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/trenton/files/2014/02/Edna-White.jpg" ><img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/trenton/files/2014/02/Edna-White-240x300.jpg" alt="Edna White" width="240" height="300" class="size-small wp-image-1463" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Edna White</p> <p>On Thursday, the Mercer County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death of 55-year-old <a href="http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/victims/dwelle-jerome-clark/" >Dwelle Jerome Clark</a> a homicide. </p> <p>Prosecutors are now in the process of filing murder charges against the woman accused of stabbing and killing Clark: 56-year-old <a href="http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/suspects/edna-white/" >Edna White</a>.</p> <p>According to witnesses, around 10:15 p.m. Saturday, White stabbed Clark in the chest after he caught her rummaging through his mother’s handbag.<br /> <span id="more-1460"></span><br /> Witnesses say that after Clark told White to “stay out of my mom’s things,” <a href="http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/2014/02/19/trenton-man-stabbed-saturday-night-dies-in-hospital-three-days-later/" >White began hitting him with a walking cane</a>. Clark then took the cane away from White, according to witnesses, and then walked into his bedroom. White then grabbed a butcher knife from atop a dresser, followed Clark into his room and stabbed him in the chest, witnesses say. </p> <p>Clark was then rushed to Capital Health Regional Medical Center. He died Tuesday from a deep perforating stab wound to the chest that penetrated his lung.</p> <p>Friends described Clark as someone who liked to laugh and joke. </p> <p>“He was always the life of the party,” longtime friend Omar Mills said Wednesday. </p> <p>And according to family members, Clark and White were ex-lovers who haven’t dated in 25 years. But White recently moved in with Clark’s family while she searched for a new place to live. </p> <p>Clark and White’s only child, Cynthia White, said Wednesday that her mother is a drug addict who is trying to quit. She believes her mother may have “snapped” after Clark took the cane from her. Cynthia White also says her mother killed someone else more than 30 years ago, and that she served jail time for that offense. </p> <p>Edna White is scheduled for a bail hearing Friday. </p> Penny RayThu, 20 Feb 2014 16:57:15 -0500http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/2014/02/20/dwelle-jerome-clarks-death-ruled-a-homicide/Dwelle Jerome ClarkEdna WhiteTrenton man stabbed Saturday night dies in hospital three days laterhttp://trenton.homicidewatch.org/2014/02/19/trenton-man-stabbed-saturday-night-dies-in-hospital-three-days-later/<p><iframe src="http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/api/v1/homicides/89.html" width="100%" height="350" frameborder=0></iframe></p> <p><a href="http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/victims/dwelle-jerome-clark/" >Dwelle Jerome Clark</a> was stabbed in the stomach by his ex-girlfriend Edna White moments after he caught her rummaging through his mother’s handbag. </p> <p>"He said, ‘Stay out of my mom’s things,’" witness to the stabbing Omar Mills said Wednesday. </p> <p>According to Mills, after Clark, 55, uttered those words, White, 56, started hitting him with a walking cane. Clark then took the cane away from her, Mills said, and walked into his bedroom. White then grabbed a butcher knife from atop a dresser, followed Clark into his room and stabbed him in the abdomen, Mills said. </p> <p>“It was senseless,” Mills said. “There was blood all over the walls and all over the floor. It was everywhere."<br /> <span id="more-1439"></span><br /> The stabbing occurred late Saturday evening in the first block of Heil Avenue. Shortly after the stabbing, Clark was rushed to Capital Health Regional Medical Center. He died in the hospital Tuesday afternoon. </p> <p>According to family members, Clark and White have one child together, Cynthia White, who said she was not present during the stabbing. But Cynthia said her parents have a history of arguments. </p> <p>“They would argue,” Cynthia White said. “But it was never an all-out fight. My mom is a drug addict, but she hasn't been using lately because she's trying to get herself together. In a situation like that, it doesn't take much for (an addict) to snap. This is not the first time my mom has snapped like this.”</p> <p>And according to Cynthia, her mother killed someone else more than 30 years ago. </p> <p>“My mom already has a body on her hands,” Cynthia White said. “She said it was self-defense because the guy was trying to rape her, but she went to jail.”</p> <p>As of Wednesday evening, Edna White is charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. </p> <p>Mercer County Prosecutors said Wednesday that Clark’s death has not yet been ruled a homicide pending an autopsy, which is scheduled for Thursday. </p> <p>Edna White is scheduled for a bail hearing Friday. Her bail is set at $75,000. </p> <p>"I really don't know what to think,” Cynthia White said. “It's just a sad situation. She's locked up and he's no longer here. Honestly, I was mad at her. But I really didn't know what to think.”</p> Penny RayWed, 19 Feb 2014 17:00:50 -0500http://trenton.homicidewatch.org/2014/02/19/trenton-man-stabbed-saturday-night-dies-in-hospital-three-days-later/Dwelle Jerome ClarkEdna White