Egg Harbor City Man Pleads Guilty to Murder and Aggravated Manslaughter

An Egg Harbor City man pleaded guilty Wednesday to murder and aggravated manslaughter in connection with the 2014 killings of a mother and child with whom he lived with.

On the morning of November 12, 2014, rescue crews responded to a home on Washington Avenue in Egg Harbor City where they found the home on fire. Palmer was found outside of the home and taken to an area hospital. Inside the home, the bodies of Michelle Pabst and her son, Gavin, were found. Palmer was living at Pabst's home at the time of the fire.

An autopsy found that Michelle Pabst had died from multiple sharp and blunt force injuries and Gavin Pabst died from multiple stab wounds.

Palmer was arrested after being discharged from the hospital and charged for the two murders and aggravated arson for setting fire to the home with the bodies inside to destroy the house.

39-year-old Joseph Palmer of Egg Harbor City pleaded guilty Wednesday to aggravated manslaughter in connection to the death of 38-year-old Michelle Pabst and to murder in connection with the death of Pabst's 7-year-old son, Gavin. In accordance with a plea agreement, Palmer will not become eligible for parole until he serves just over 51 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for this March.