Woman Charged With Concealing Dead Mother’s Remains
A Jersey City woman has been charged with concealing the remains of a 78-year-old woman who was found dead in her Arlington Avenue apartment Saturday night, following a call for a welfare check.
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit announced that Cheryl Gatling, age 53, of Jersey City, has been charged with Concealing Human Remains; Possession of Weapon (Knife) for Unlawful Purposes; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Knife); and Terroristic Threats.
On Saturday, June 26, 2021 at approximately 8:18 p.m., the Jersey City Police Department responded to 415 Arlington Avenue on a welfare check for one of the fourth floor occupants. A 53-year-old woman had barricaded herself in the apartment and would not allow officers to access the unit for three hours. At approximately 11:24 p.m., the woman opened the door and allowed the Jersey City Police Department to gain access to the apartment where they found a lifeless 78-year-old woman, presumed to be the mother of the defendant – Dorothy Gatling.
The victim was pronounced dead at 11:47 p.m. and is believed to have been dead for an extended period of time. The cause and manner of death are pending the findings of the Regional Medical Examiner.
Additional charges may be filed pending further investigations and the findings of the Medical Examiner.
