In the quiet community of Tabernacle, New Jersey, the life of 49-year-old Thomas W. Wright II was brought to a tragic and violent end on Friday, July 1, 2016. A respected businessman and owner of Artisan Building Creations, which he operated from his home on Patty Bowker Road, Wright was a well-known figure in the area. His family grew concerned when he failed to appear at a job site, a deviation from his usual reliability. This concern led his father to Wright's residence, where a grim discovery was made.
Inside his home, Wright was found deceased, having been shot multiple times in the head and neck. The initial investigation by the New Jersey State Police pointed to a former employee, 42-year-old David M. Stead of Pemberton Township. Investigators determined that Stead had gone to Wright's home with the intention of robbing him. However, the encounter escalated, and Stead shot Wright before stealing a small amount of cash and a rented pickup truck that Wright had been using.
The stolen vehicle was later discovered abandoned less than a mile from Stead's own home.
The investigation swiftly led to the arrest of David Stead, who was charged with murder, felony murder, robbery, and weapons offenses. He was held in the Burlington County Jail on a $1 million bail. In a subsequent court proceeding in July 2018, Stead pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of first-degree aggravated manslaughter. This plea resulted in a sentence of 30 years in state prison, with the stipulation that he must serve 85 percent of his term before becoming eligible for parole. The case concluded, leaving a community to mourn the loss of a man known for his work and active participation in various organizations.
