Body Found in Schmucker Investigation

COURT HOUSE — A body has been recovered in a heavily wooded area of Villas. According to Cape May County Prosecutor Robert Taylor, Middle Township Police Chief Christopher Leusner and Lower Township Police Chief Brian Marker, the body is believed to be that of Samuel Schmucker. The body has not yet been positively identified.
Schmucker, 25, was last seen Jan. 5, 2011 at approximately 11 p.m. He was reported to have been a passenger in a car with his roommate. An argument ensued with Schmucker allegedly getting out of the vehicle and walking toward Route 47 on Bayshore Road.
According to police, detectives from the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Crime Scene Unit, Prosecutor’s detectives, detectives from Middle Township Major Crimes Unit, Lower Township police and an assistant prosecutor from the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office recovered the body April 14.
The body was buried on the east side of Villas in an area that took police over eight hours to excavate.
Medical Examiner Dr. Hisham Hashish and investigators from the Medical Examiner’s Office were present from 7:30 a.m. until the recovery was completed.
The location of the body was provided by Paul Olexa in the presence of his attorney as part of a plea agreement where Olexa pleaded guilty to an accusation of manslaughter. Olexa pleaded guilty late Fri., April 13. The state has agreed that Olexa will serve a five-year sentence in New Jersey State Prison with a mandatory 85 percent completion of the sentence.
The investigation remains on going.