Authorities have said Melton was found beaten to death in her West Sylvania Avenue apartment in Neptune City by a family member in September 2009.
FREEHOLD -- Three Asbury Park men were charged Wednesday in connection with the 2009 beating death of schoolteacher Jonelle Melton, who was the victim of mistaken identity in an attempted break-in, authorities announced on Thursday.
Charged with murder, armed robbery, conspiracy, burglary and weapons offenses were James Fair, 27; Ebenezer Byrd, 35; and Gregory Jean-Baptiste, 26, said acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
He said all three men are currently incarcerated on unrelated charges.
"I am proud to say that we've captured the killers of Jonelle Melton," he said. "And I will applaud the tenacity, the patience (and) the dedication of everyone who participated in this case and especially the family members of Jonelle Melton in working with us and being patient with us over these last six years."
Authorities have said Melton was found beaten to death in her West Sylvania Avenue apartment in the Brighton Arms apartment complex in Neptune City by her husband, Michael Melton on Sept. 14, 2009.
Michael Melton went to check on her after she did not respond to phone calls and didn't show up to work as a teacher at the Red Bank Middle School.
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The 33-year-old teacher had worked at the school for eight years, but was getting ready to start a new position teaching fifth grade. Along with her teaching duties, Melton coached cheerleading and dance teams, and was a member of the School Improvement Team.
Speaking at a press conferece on Thursday at his office in Freehold, Gramiccioni said the three men intended on robbing a specific apartment in the Brighton Arms Complex. However, they accidentally broke into Melton's apartment by mistake but still beat her to death, the acting prosecutor said.
"The offenders had intended to break into one apartment but chose the wrong one. They chose Jonelle's," Gramiccioni said. "And once they encountered her, they brutally murdered her."
"They planned to burglarize a specific apartment but this was essentially a case of mistaken identity," he added.
When Gramiccioni said his office had made arrests, at least one person in the audience -- which included about 20 members of Melton's school district -- blurted out "hallelujah."
For years, authorities urged the public for information to help solve the homicide. In September 2013, investigators canvassed the area, handing out flyers offering $5,000 cash for tips leading to an arrest in the case.
The cash reward, offered by the Monmouth County Crime Stoppers, was eventually upped to $10,000.
In August, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office announced it had made a break in the case, saying they were close to making an arrest. But Gramiccioni on Thursday would not say what that break was and said the six-year investigation was akin to putting together a puzzle until all the pieces fit.
But he did not rule out the possibility of other suspects and said the investigation is continuing.
Gramiccioni said investigators had developed new leads, but stopped short of divulging any further information.
"Jonelle Melton deserves justice and those who knew and loved her deserve answers," Gramiccioni said at the time.
At a press conference on Thursday, Melton's family and friends said this was the day they've been waiting for.
Fair is currently at the Monmouth County jail awaiting trial on racketeering and attempted murder charges. Byrd is currently serving a 12-year sentence in state prison for two separate Asbury Park shootings, which also happened in 2009. Jean-Baptiste is also awaiting trial in connection with drug distribution and gun possession charges.
Bail for all three men was set at $1.5 million cash.
If convicted of murder, each man faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in state prison.
MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.