Cherry Hill, New Jersey – The recent death of Fred Neulander, a former prominent rabbi in Cherry Hill, has brought back memories of a dark chapter in his life that ultimately led to his incarceration. Neulander, who was serving a life sentence for orchestrating the murder of his wife, was discovered unresponsive in his prison cell this week. The 82-year-old was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Neulander’s sinister plot to hire hitmen to kill his wife, Carol Neulander, in order to pursue an affair with a radio personality from Philadelphia shocked his community and the nation. The murder occurred back in 1994, when Carol was found bludgeoned to death in their Cherry Hill home. The crime scene was staged to look like a robbery, but investigators quickly saw through the ruse.
During his trial, it was revealed that Neulander had enlisted the help of Len Jenoff and Paul Michael Daniels to carry out the murder. Both men were offered money for the heinous act, with Neulander wanting to eliminate his wife due to her interference in his extramarital affair. Jenoff and Daniels eventually confessed to their roles in the murder, leading to Neulander’s conviction in 2002.
Despite maintaining his innocence in Carol’s murder, Neulander did admit to his affair, calling his behavior appalling and acknowledging the pain he had caused. The scandal not only tarnished his reputation but also led to the closure of the synagogue he had founded, Congregation M’kor Shalom, in Cherry Hill.
Jenoff and Daniels were released from prison in 2014, while Neulander remained behind bars until his recent passing. The details surrounding his death have not been disclosed, leaving many questions unanswered. However, Neulander’s legacy will forever be marred by the shocking events that unfolded years ago, reminding us of the destructive consequences of betrayal and greed in a most tragic manner.