A beloved New Jersey hairdresser, preparing for retirement, and her long-time partner were killed Saturday morning when a stolen Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, driven by teenagers, collided with their car in Mays Landing, authorities said.
Alice Stilwell, 67, and Robert Barr Jr., 54, died at the scene of the crash, which occurred around 7:50 a.m. on Route 50 and Third Street. The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office stated that the G-Wagon was traveling at high speed on the wrong side of the road when it struck Stilwell's Hyundai sedan.
The teenagers inside the stolen $220,000 SUV, which had Pennsylvania license plates, escaped the wreck with minor injuries and attempted to flee but were apprehended by authorities. The vehicle had been initially spotted by police in Longport around 3:40 a.m. A pursuit ensued, and officers lost sight of the G-Wagon shortly before the fatal collision.
Nayshaun Brown, 18, of Atlantic City, and three unidentified juveniles face charges including conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, joyriding, and eluding police.
Stilwell, a mother and grandmother of 10, had dedicated her life to her career as a hairdresser since the early 1990s. Her family described her in an obituary as more than a stylist, but also a counselor and a trusted friend to her clients. Although she had begun to reduce her hours to enter retirement with Barr, she continued working because she cherished her clients and the ability to make them feel beautiful and cared for.
In her later years, Stilwell also pursued her passion for art, creating and selling whimsical creations at local farmers' markets. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist with funeral expenses.
Her obituary noted that the "immeasurable hole" left by her passing will be filled by her legacy, which will live on through her family and the countless individuals she inspired and comforted throughout her life.