Jonelle Melton's relatives and friends, seated in the audience, watched in shock and tears welled up in the eyes of Melton's sister, Rachel Haslon, and her husband, Michael Melton.
FREEHOLD -- Two of the three men accused of beating a beloved Red Bank schoolteacher to death in a case of mistaken identity appeared Thursday in court where they proclaimed their innocence.
One of the suspects, James Fair, 27, boldly declared himself not guilty of the seven charges lodged against him on Wednesday when he and two other Asbury Park men - already jailed on unrelated charges - were accused of the Sept. 14, 2009, beating death of teacher Jonelle Melton.
"Not guilty," Fair said while looking straight at photographers as he was escorted out of the courtroom of Superior Court Judge Anthony Mellaci Jr. by Monmouth County Sheriff's Officers.
Melton's relatives and friends, seated in the audience, watched in shock and tears welled up in the eyes of Melton's sister, Rachel Haslon, and her husband, Michael Melton.
Gregory Jean-Baptiste, 26, also pleaded not guilty, but through his attorney, Allison Friedman, a public defender.
The third suspect, Ebeneezer Byrd, 35, is scheduled for his first court appearance Friday afternoon.
3 Asbury Park men charged in 2009 beating death of schoolteacher
Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said Melton, 33, was killed when the three men - looking to burglarize a specific apartment in her complex - mistakenly broke into Melton's apartment at Brighton Arms in Neptune City.
Her husband found her shortly after 9 a.m. when she didn't report to work and didn't respond to text messages or phone calls.
All three men are being held on $1.5 million bail. They are charged with felony murder, armed robbery, conspiracy, burglary and three weapons offenses.
Fair has been in the Monmouth County jail in Freehold waiting trial on a 219-count indictment charging him with racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder, robbery and drug and weapons offenses rising from an investigation known as "Operation Dead End."
Byrd, in New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, is serving a 12-year sentence for two separate Asbury Park shootings in 2009.
Jean-Baptiste is waiting trial on three indictments charging him with drug distribution and gun possession.
Neither Friedman nor Fair's public defender, Raquel DeStefano, would comment after the brief proceedings.
During an earlier press conference announcing the arrests, Haslon fought through tears to talk about her younger sister, whom she said would be missed by so many.
Her most burning question, she said, is why her sister had to die.
"My little sister, my butterfly. She was loved - just genuine love," Haslon said.
Melton's husband said the years of waiting for someone to be charged has been torture for him and his family.
"This has been a nightmare for over six years. My family and I have been through a lot of grief and trauma," he said.
He pleaded for anyone who may have more information about his wife's death to speak out.
"Jonelle was an innocent loving teacher and she did not deserve this," he said.
RELATED: Authorities close to arrest in 2009 beating death of Red Bank teacher
Co-workers said that before Melton and her husband were married, they taught school in the Trenton area before getting jobs in Red Bank schools. In her seven years at the school, she was active there and in her church, friends and relatives said.
She was a member of the middle school's School Improvement Team, the Leadership Program at Red Bank Regional High School and was selected to serve as the Student Council advisor.
"She touched everyone's lives," said Wendy Turnock, a retired guidance counselor and past president of the teachers' union at the middle school. "It's such a waste of such a young and vibrant life."
Michelle Case, another former co-worker, said the day is bittersweet.
"Today is a great day in a sense," she said. "It's something we've waited for."
MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.