Susan Negersmith
CAPE MAY COURTHOUSE - Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland and Wildwood Police Chief Robert Regalbuto today reported the arrest of Jerry Rosado, 62, of Millville for the sexual assault of Susan Negersmith in 1990. At that time, Negersmith, 20, of Carmel, New York, was in the Wildwood area with friends for the Memorial Day weekend.
On Sunday, May 27, 1990, the partially clothed body of Susan Negersmith was discovered in a rear outside storage area adjacent to a popular Wildwood restaurant. An autopsy determined that she was sexually assaulted.
Numerous law enforcement agencies, including the Prosecutor's Major Crimes Unit, Wildwood Police Detective Bureau, NJ State Police Major Crimes Unit and the FBI, conducted an intense investigation over a 32-year period.
During the investigation, an unknown STR (short tandem repeat) DNA profile was identified on Negersmith's body. The profile was compared to multiple individuals of interest over the years, all with negative results.
In 2018, the Prosecutor's Office used new DNA technology to conduct a Genetic Genealogy Analysis of the unknown DNA profile, which determined that Rosado was a STR DNA match to the unknown profile.
"Countless law enforcement professionals and prosecutors have worked on resolving this case over the last 32 years and their collective dedicated effort, in conjunction with the improvements in DNA Technology and Genetic Genealogy Analysis, has led to this long overdue arrest, Sutherland said. I want to particularly commend the Major Crimes Cold Case Unit of the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office for their steadfast efforts in finally providing a measure of justice to the Negersmith family."
Rosado is charged with the crime of sexual assault, a 2nd Degree crime subject to a term of imprisonment of 5-10 years in New Jersey State Prison.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless he is proven guilty.
This investigation is ongoing and could result in additional charges, Sutherland said in a release.
Anyone who has information should contact the Cape May County Sheriff's Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net and click on anonymous tip, or call Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-889-3597, or Cape May County Prosecutor's Office at 609-465-1135.
