Four teenagers are facing charges after allegedly stealing a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon and leading police on a chase that culminated in a fatal head-on collision in Mays Landing, New Jersey. The crash occurred around 7:30 a.m. on August 22, killing Alice Stilwell Holt, 67, and her longtime partner, Robert "Bob" Barr Jr., 54, both of Egg Harbor Township.
According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, the incident began around 3:40 a.m. when Nayshaun Brown, 18, of Atlantic City, and three juveniles allegedly stole the 2024 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon. Authorities stated the teens took the SUV on a joyride. Surveillance video captured the stolen G-Wagon crashing head-on into a Hyundai sedan occupied by Holt and Barr as the driver attempted to evade authorities. The impact sent the sedan into a nearby gas station.
The four teenagers sustained minor injuries and attempted to flee the scene but were apprehended by law enforcement shortly after the crash. Brown faces charges including conspiracy counts for aggravated assault, joyriding, eluding, and receiving a stolen motor vehicle. He is also charged with employing a juvenile in the commission of a crime. Two of the juveniles remain in custody, while the third was released by a Superior Court judge.
Authorities reported that officers had been tracking the stolen G-Wagon since early Saturday morning in Longport. Hamilton Township police later spotted the vehicle and initiated a pursuit, but they had lost sight of it minutes before the fatal collision.
Holt and Barr were described as beloved members of their community. A GoFundMe organized by a family friend stated that Holt was a devoted mother and grandmother, and that she and Barr had been partners for over 20 years. Their shared interests included cooking, gardening, and spending time with their cats.
Anyone with information regarding the investigation is encouraged to contact the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit at (609) 909-7684 or submit tips anonymously. Investigators have reached out to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office and the Township of Hamilton Police Department for further information. A lawyer representing Brown and the other teens was not immediately available for comment.