Man dies by suicide in Camden County jail one day after murder conviction for wife’s death, prosecutors report.
A Voorhees man sentenced for murdering his wife took his own life in a Camden County jail shortly after his conviction. Shawn Lichtfuss, 53, was found dead in his cell just a day after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder in the strangling death of his wife, Stefanie Caraway, aged 38. The conviction, which occurred on September 18, 2023, followed a six-day trial, during which jurors deliberated for approximately 45 minutes before reaching their unanimous verdict.
Prosecutors detailed that Lichtfuss had confessed to putting Caraway in a chokehold at their home following a welfare check initiated by law enforcement. Officers later located him several hours later parked at a convenience store across from the Voorhees Township Police Department. After the guilty verdict, Lichtfuss was returned to the Camden County jail to await a sentencing hearing.
Tragically, on the evening of September 19, shortly after 11 p.m., correctional officers found Lichtfuss unresponsive in his cell. Despite immediate lifesaving measures, he was pronounced dead at 11:39 p.m. An autopsy conducted on September 22 determined that the cause of death was asphyxiation, with authorities ruling the manner of death as suicide.
The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office has directed the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office to carry out an independent investigation into Lichtfuss’ death, consistent with its established policy regarding fatalities in custody. Oversight for this investigation falls under the state prosecutor’s Integrity and Accountability Office, ensuring scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding his demise.
Prior to the murder conviction, Lichtfuss had a troubling history with the law, including documented instances of sexual violence and mental health issues. He had previously vandalized properties with white supremacist slogans and had spray-painted pro-Palestinian messages on synagogues in Bucks County. Furthermore, Lichtfuss had entered into law enforcement custody in an effort to address his mental health challenges, after serving an eight-to-23-month sentence for the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl.
Lichtfuss met and married Caraway, who worked as a manager at a local Pet Valu store. In the days leading up to her death, friends and coworkers expressed concerns about the couple’s wellbeing, sharing worries over troubling social media posts from Lichtfuss. Following her tragic death, one friend remarked on Caraway’s character, stating she was a genuinely caring individual who had positively impacted the lives of those around her.
This incident continues to raise questions about mental health, violence, and the systemic issues facing individuals within the criminal justice system. The outcome of the ongoing investigation into Lichtfuss’ death will be closely monitored as it may reveal critical insights into the handling of individuals with complex histories in custody.
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