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Burlco man convicted of strangling Lumberton woman

William M. Gennett was found guilty in the 2016 death of Shannon O'Rourke.

William M. Gennett, 54, was found guilty of strangling Shannon O'Rourke, 45, inside of her Nassau Road residence on July 5, 2016.
William M. Gennett, 54, was found guilty of strangling Shannon O'Rourke, 45, inside of her Nassau Road residence on July 5, 2016.Read moreBurlington County Prosecutor's Office
    by Robert Moran
    Updated 
    Published 

A 54-year-old man was found guilty Wednesday of the 2016 strangling death of a 45-year-old Lumberton woman, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina said.

A Burlington County Superior Court jury convicted William M. Gennett, of Tabernacle, of first-degree murder in the death of Shannon O'Rourke inside her Nassau Road residence on July 5, 2016. Gennett also was convicted of fourth-degree stalking.

Prosecutors said Gennett killed O'Rourke after she rejected his attempts to turn their friendship into a romantic relationship. Gennett is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 16.