Jennifer Sweeney, 32, of Tinton Falls, and Andre Harris, 32, of Long Branch, have both been charged in the woman's death, as well as a previous shooting.
FREEHOLD -- In what authorities said was their second attempt at killing a 41-year-old Linden mother, a man and a woman were charged with murder and other offenses after the missing woman was found wrapped in a tarp and buried in the backyard of a home in Long Branch, officials said Wednesday.
Jennifer Sweeney, 32, of Tinton Falls, and Andre Harris, 32, of Long Branch, have been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree desecration of human remains and fourth-degree tampering with evidence. On the same day, authorities in Union County charged Sweeney -- described as a good friend of Tyrita Julius -- and Harris each with attempted murder, conspiracy and weapons offenses related to a 2015 shooting in Linden where Julius was seriously injured.
Julius, who had been missing since March 8, was found under 3 feet of soil in the backyard of Harris's home on Joline Avenue in Long Branch, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni. He said Sweeney and Julius were good friends but he would not characterize Harris' relationship with either of the women.
In a 2-minute proceeding in Superior Court in Freehold Wednesday afternoon, Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Decker presented Harris with a copy of his charges but did not elaborate on details of the killing.
Minutes later, Decker presented a copy of the same charges to Sweeney. Her appearance in court elicited anger and tears from several of Julius' nearly two dozen friends and relatives who attended the proceeding as well as the press conference.
"Rot in hell!" one member of the audience yelled at Sweeney.
2 charged with killing missing Linden mom
Julius went missing after spending the day with Sweeney. Sweeney initially told authorities and Julius' mother that she drove Julius to the train station in Long Branch but Gramiccioni said investigators eventually learned that was not the case.
"Sadly we're here to announce today that Tyrita never got on a train out of Long Branch and unfortunately she never made it home to her residence in Linden," Gramiccioni said. "our investigation revealed that Sweeney and Harris murdered Tyrita in the area of Long Branch, New Jersey and buried her in the backyard at 228 Joline Ave."
He said investigators during a search of the yard Tuesday night found a shovel believed to be used to bury Julius' body.
The disappearance of Julius prompted a massive search and the offer of a $15,000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts. Authorities did not say what led to the discovery of her body in Long Branch or whether the reward helped generate new leads.
The couple appeared in court Wednesday after their arrest Tuesday night. Bail for Harris and Sweeney was set at $1.5 million cash each.
Gramiccioni said an autopsy had yet to be conducted to determine the cause and manner of Julius' death.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Tyrita Julius and extend our most sincere condolences to her friends and family, and we hope that we are able to give them some sense of closure by bringing those responsible for her death to justice," acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park said.
Sweeney's attorney, Edward Bertucio, tried to have her bail converted to one that would allow the family to post a bond, but Superior Court Judge Honora O'Brien Kilgallen, citing the seriousness of the accusation, kept it at cash.
"This is...probably the most serious crime that can be charged against a defendant," Kilgallen said.
Decker said this was a case of Harris and Sweeney trying to finish a killing they first attempted in November in Linden.
"This is essentially...'at first if you don't succeed, try again,'" Decker said.
Bertucio said Sweeney denies the allegations.
"She vehemently and completely denies all of the charges," he said.
Julius' family and friends erupted in anger at that.
"I know it's an emotional time, but again, I need to have order in the court," Kilgallen said, gently chiding them.
Sweeney's mother and grandmother sat crying in the row in front of Julius' family. Harris' father and sister also watched the court proceeding.
None of the family members commented after court.
The judge prohibited Sweeney and Harris from having any contact with Julius' family or going back to the Long Branch house.
Julius was also the victim of a serious shooting on Nov. 24, 2015. Linden police found Julius shot several times in the driver's seat of her car a few blocks from her home on Middlesex Street.
Harris and Sweeney were both charged in that shooting Tuesday night.
MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.