Hazlet Man Returns from Georgia To Face Charges of Murder and Arson in Death of Middletown Woman

Darryl E. Petlock, the man accused of killing Lynn Moretti of Middletown and setting fire to her house, has been extradicted from Georgia. He appeared before a judge in Freehold Thursday. 

Petlock, 34, of the Locust Grove development in the West Keansburg section of Hazlet Township, was informed of the three serious charges against him related to the murder of Moretti, 40, on September 4.

His initial appearance was before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Mellaci, Jr., J.S.C. in Freehold. 

Petlock, also known as “Isa Maajid,"  is currently being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Facility in Freehold. Bail was set by the judge at $2.5 million, no ten percent option. 

Petlock is charged with knowingly causing the death of Moretti, a crime of the first degree; purposely starting the fire to destroy her home at 160 Jersey Ave in North Middletown, a crime of the second degree; and possession of a knife with the intention to use it against another person, a crime of the third degree. 

"A knife was used to kill her," said Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni on Thursday. He confirmed Moretti had been stabbed. 

An investigation into her death was conducted by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, with the assistance of the Middletown Police Department.

On September 9, law enforcement authorities were notified that Petlock was arrested in Brunswick, Georgia on an unrelated matter.

As a result of the continuing investigation into the incident, Petlock was arrested on September 10 by members of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Middletown Police Department.

On September 11, Petlock had appeared in Glynn County Magistrate Court and agreed to waive extradition.