Bail stays $1M for suspect in Millville beating death

BRIDGETON – A Millville man accused of beating to death another man with a concrete block made his first appearance in Cumberland County Superior Court here on Tuesday afternoon since his arrest four days earlier.

Defendant Justin L. "Spazz" Daughtry appeared before Judge Robert Malestein to have the charges and his rights formally read and presented to him. Daughtry said little besides giving some brief answers to questions from the bench, and he was returned after the 5-minute hearing to the county jail.

Malestein left bail at $1 million cash for Daughtry. The bail covers all charges against him: Murder; aggravated assault; possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose; and unlawful possession of a weapon.

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Daughtry, a 24-year-old resident of North 2nd Street, already was a county jail inmate when he was charged on Friday with the murder of Sean Hill on April 22. The defendant has a lengthy arrest record.

Hill’s body was discovered on April 22 in an abandoned house at 805 N. 2nd Street while police were checking the property. Investigators think Hill was killed in the early morning hours that day. The 21-year-old victim was a Port Norris resident.

Four women identified as family members of the victim attended Tuesday’s hearing. They declined to speak to reporters after the hearing.

County Assistant Prosecutor Elizabeth Vogelsong, who represented the state, said Daughtry may get a bail review hearing as early as this Friday. The defendant does not have an attorney representing him in this case, yet.

Malestein cautioned the defendant not to talk with anyone until he has an attorney. The judge told Daughtry that, other than a bail hearing, his next appearance before a judge should be in pre-indictment court.

Joseph P. Smith; (856) 563-5252; jsmith@gannettnj.com