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Fred Neulander

Fred Neulander
Born (1941-08-14) August 14, 1941 (age 75)
Occupation Rabbi
Criminal status In prison
Spouse(s) Carol Neulander
Conviction(s) Murder (1994)

Fred Neulander (born August 14, 1941), a Reform rabbi in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, was convicted of hiring two men to murder his wife Carol Neulander in 1994. He is currently serving a prison term of 30 years to life in Trenton, New Jersey.

Neulander was the founding Rabbi of the Congregation M'Kor Shalom Reform Temple in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, United States, which opened in the summer of 1974. Previously, he had been the assistant Rabbi at Temple Emanuel, also in Cherry Hill. Neulander graduated from Trinity College in 1963.

He was convicted of paying congregant Len Jenoff and drifter Paul Daniels $18,000 to kill his wife Carol on November 1, 1994. The case became a media circus and was broadcast live on CourtTV. In February 1995, he resigned as Rabbi from Congregation M'Kor Shalom.

At the time of his wife's murder, Neulander had been involved in a two-year-long affair with Philadelphia radio personality Elaine Soncini. The affair began after he visited Soncini's Jewish husband, Ken Garland, in the hospital and later officiated at Garland's funeral. "So compelling was Rabbi Neulander that Soncini later converted from Catholicism to Judaism under his tutelage."

Tried before Judge Linda G. Baxter, the first trial resulted in a hung jury. It had been empaneled in Camden County. Area newspapers reported rumors that the panel hung 9-3 in favor of guilt. Due to the intense media coverage in Camden County, the re-trial was moved to Monmouth County. At the re-trial, Neulander was defended by Mt. Holly attorney Mike Riley. In Monmouth, Fred Neulander was found guilty. Neulander's son Matthew, whose testimony at the first trial had been lukewarm, was by the time of the second trial thoroughly convinced of his father's guilt, which was reflected in his testimony. Following the verdict, Assistant Prosecutor Jim Lynch submitted to the jury the question of whether or not the death penalty should be sought. The jury panel decided not to recommend the death penalty. Neulander was sentenced to serve 30 years to life at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton. In an interview by ABC's Barbara Walters after his incarceration, he told her “You have no idea how much rage I have.” He was also saddened that two of his three adult children testified against him.


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