A Pennsylvania man has been acquitted of murdering a New Jersey pharmaceutical executive who had just won big at a Pennsylvania casino.
Jekai Reid-John, 27, of Norristown, was found not guilty of murder, armed robbery, burglary, multiple weapons offenses and witness tampering following a three-week trial in Middlesex County, MyCentralJersey.com reported. A final count, conspiracy to commit robbery, split the jury so they will return to court on Oct. 10 to further discuss the matter, officials said.
Reid-John had been accused of killing 54-year-old Sree Aravapalli on Oct. 26, 2021. That night, he was found suffering multiple gunshot wounds inside his home in Plainsboro Township and rushed to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead a few hours later.
Police, at the time, said surveillance video from inside the Parx Casino in Bensalem showed two people hanging around the victim prior to his death, including a person who used a debit-card associated with Reid-John.
After Aravapalli cashed in his $10,000 winnings, he returned to his New Jersey home. EZ pass records show he took the Pennsylvania Turnpike, where he was followed by a white BMW with a temporary Delaware license plate, aftermarket wheels and a black spoiler. And when he exited the Turnpike around 3:20 a.m., the white BMW also got off at the same time and exit, according to court documents.
Some 20 minutes later, police received a 911 call about the gunfire that would kill Aravapalli.
A second man, Devon Melchor, 26, was also charged with armed robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery in connection with Aravapalli’s slaying. He was taken into police custody in Florida in 2021 as he was attempting to board an international flight. He pleaded guilty as part of a deal with prosecutors but has not yet been sentence.
