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The double murder of John Enders and Francoise Pitoy left the entire community of Surf City, New Jersey, shocked because of the brutality of the crime. Not only were the elderly couple murdered but they were killed in a way that screamed "revenge" in every language possible.
This case is set to be the subject of the upcoming episode of People Magazine Investigates on Investigation Discovery, which will air at 9 pm EST on Monday, December 16, 2024. The synopsis for the episode reads:
"In 2021, police find a retired couple stabbed repeatedly in their home on the New Jersey shore. They witness a mysterious figure coming and going on security footage, which leads them to a suspect who is very close to home with a desire for revenge."
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The investigation of the murder led to someone very close to the victim, further worsening the conditions of this double murder.
Ahead of the episode's airtime, let us go over the details of John Enders and Francoise Pitoy's murders.
Who were John Enders and Francoise Pitoy and what happened to them?
Born to John F. Enders Sr. and Frances Fetch Enders, in 1934, John Enders was raised in Philadelphia and was known for his pleasant personality. John, who was also known as Jack, graduated from Frankford High School and served in the U.S. Air Force.
Following this, John Enders also earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering and went on to become a successful builder. He operated under the name of Del-Jay Builders in the Bucks County area and the business flourished immensely over the years.
He married and had children with Della E. Ferguson, raising their two daughters, Terrie L. Swavely and Sherry Lee Heffernan, and leading a happy life. In 2001, Della passed away, leaving John distraught.
Moving on from the loss and continuing with his life, John eventually settled in Surf City, New Jersey, where he met Francoise "Frenchy" Pitoy in 2019. The two had an immediate connection and went on to enjoy a companionship that brought mutual peace. Things were seemingly going well for the elderly couple who were in the twilight of their lives.
Things changed on October 3, 2021, when Pitoy's family contacted the authorities because they were unable to contact her. When the police went to check, they found a crime scene that was straight out of a horror movie.
John Enders was found sitting in a recliner on the main level with a gunshot wound to his face. He was also stabbed 51 times. Pitoy was found on the landing of the stairs, also shot in the face and with 39 stab wounds. It was very clear that the murderer had a vendetta against the couple and did not hold back at all.
Following the autopsy, John’s cause of death was revealed to be blunt force trauma, 51 stab wounds, a gunshot wound to the face, and a severed carotid artery. Pitoy's cause of death was also similar, hinting at how brutal the murderer was.
Who killed John Enders and Francoise Pitoy?
The investigation did not take long and it was soon established that it was John's own daughter, Sherry Lee Heffernan, who was behind this brutal murder. It was allegedly a result of a dispute over John's will and his property. With enough physical evidence, she was ultimately arrested and sentenced for the brutal crime and she remains incarcerated even today.
The upcoming episode of People Magazine Investigates will cover this case in more detail.
