Her Daughter Was Stabbed 37 Times — Now This Cancer-Stricken Mom Fears She’ll Die Before Seeing Justice

A cancer-stricken New Jersey mother fears she won’t live long enough to see justice for her daughter, who was brutally stabbed 37 times. As legal delays drag on, her fight to hold the killer accountable grows more urgent.

Her Daughter Was Stabbed 37 Times — Now This Cancer-Stricken Mom Fears She’ll Die Before Seeing Justice
Janet Pizzelli holds a photo of her daughter Maryrose Fealey, whose life was tragically cut short in a brutal stabbing.Published by the Garden state gazette.

A Mother’s Worst Nightmare Unfolds

Imagine losing your daughter in the most brutal way imaginable—stabbed 37 times, her life stolen in a violent attack that shocked an entire community. For Janet Pizzelli, this nightmare became reality on a cold night in January 2024. Maryrose Fealey, her vibrant 27-year-old daughter, was found lifeless outside her apartment in Somerville, New Jersey.

But the horror didn’t end there. Now, battling cancer herself, Janet is gripped by a terrifying fear: Will she live long enough to see her daughter’s killer brought to justice?

The Chilling Details Behind the Murder

Maryrose wasn’t just any victim. She was a Rutgers graduate who gave up a federal government career to help people battling addiction—a true angel in human form. But on that fateful night, everything changed.

Police arrested 28-year-old David Shroitman, a former schoolmate, who was caught scrubbing his car with bleach and found with a disturbing manifesto that revealed his deadly intentions. Surveillance footage placed him near the scene, painting a grim picture of premeditation.

Justice Delayed: A Mother’s Agonizing Wait

Despite overwhelming evidence, the wheels of justice are turning agonizingly slow. Shroitman’s defense claims he’s mentally unfit for trial, sparking a fierce legal battle that has dragged on for over a year. Key hearings have been postponed repeatedly, pushing the trial further into the future—and every delay is a dagger to Janet’s heart.

With her own health deteriorating, she fears she might never see the day her daughter’s murderer faces the consequences.

Fighting Cancer and Fighting for Justice

Janet’s battle is twofold: she’s fighting cancer with every ounce of strength she has—enduring a double mastectomy and a life-threatening chemotherapy reaction—while desperately trying to keep her daughter’s case alive in the public eye.

“I’m terrified I won’t live to see justice,” Janet confessed. “Every delay feels like a cruel reminder that time is running out.”

The Movement to Demand Justice

Refusing to be silenced by grief or illness, Janet and Maryrose’s friends launched the “100 Voices for Maryrose” campaign, a powerful movement demanding prosecutors fast-track the case.

“Maryrose was a light in the darkness for so many,” said a close friend. “We owe it to her to fight until justice is served.”

Will Janet See Justice Before It’s Too Late?

As the next court date looms, Janet’s hope burns fiercely amid uncertainty. Her story is a heartbreaking reminder of how fragile life is—and how vital it is to fight for justice, no matter the obstacles.