In the spring of 2014, the community of Vineland, New Jersey, was shaken by a series of violent events that led to the untimely death of 39-year-old Arthur Fletcher Leonard Rease. Known affectionately as 'Moosie' to his friends and family, Rease was a man with a big heart who was well-known and loved in his community, particularly for his involvement as a coach for the Vineland Midget Football league, where he was fondly called 'Uncle Moose' by the children he mentored.
A devoted father, he was immensely proud of his three sons.
The violence that would ultimately claim Rease's life began on the night of Sunday, April 13, 2014, with a reported home invasion. This was followed by shootings at two different locations in Vineland in the early hours of Monday, April 14th. In one of these incidents, Arthur Rease was found with a gunshot wound to his back, having been shot with a semi-automatic rifle. He was rushed to Cooper University Hospital in Camden for treatment.
Despite medical efforts, Arthur Rease succumbed to his injuries and passed away on Tuesday, April 15, 2014. Another man, 21-year-old Jonathan Candelario, also died from wounds sustained in the connected shootings. Two other individuals, including Rease's own brother, were wounded but survived. The investigation into the string of violence and the resulting homicides was immediately launched by the Vineland Police Department and the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office.
Authorities believe the shootings were all connected and involved individuals who had previous interactions with law enforcement. However, a specific motive for the violence has remained under investigation. To date, the case of Arthur Rease's murder is considered a cold case. No arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office continues to seek information from the public in the hopes of bringing justice to the family of Arthur Rease and the other victims of that tragic night.
