Nicole Barbour, a 26-year-old Mahwah native, was charged in a warrant with illegally disturbing human remains in the death of Ashley M. Castro, 29, following the April 5 discovery on Route 22 in Central New Jersey.
Authorities said Barbour and a Pennsylvania man moved the victim's body from a motel across the highway into the brush six days earlier.
After identifying the victim, investigators zeroed in on 32-year-old David DeSantos and Barbour -- who records show has a history of arrests for minor offenses in North Jersey.
These include 2015 drug busts in Mahwah and Elmwood Park while Barbour was living in Blauvelt.
Authorities arrested DeSantos, of Henryville, PA last Friday on a fugitive warrant out of Pennsylvania and charged him with second-degree disturbing human remains.
They asked that anyone who sees Barbour or has information that could help investigators call the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100, the Branchburg Township Police Department (908) 526-3830 or the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477).
OR: www.888577tips.org or www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE.”
All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
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