NEWTON, N.J. — A man from North Carolina has entered a plea of not guilty to charges related to the decades-old disappearance of Lisa Marie McBride, whose remains were discovered years later. Robert William McCaffrey Jr., 54, faces serious allegations that include first-degree murder, kidnapping, and second-degree burglary linked to McBride’s case from 1990. His arrest was prompted by recent advancements in DNA testing, which allowed law enforcement to revisit and ultimately revive this cold case.
McCaffrey, who previously resided in both Sussex County, New Jersey, and Charleston County, South Carolina, was arrested on April 10 in North Carolina by a collaborative effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies. Sussex County Prosecutor Daniel M. Perez emphasized the significance of this arrest, noting it represents a critical step in seeking justice for McBride’s family. Following extradition to New Jersey, McCaffrey pleaded not guilty on April 20 during a hearing at Sussex County Superior Court.
The tragic saga began over three decades ago on June 23, 1990. McBride, a vibrant 27-year-old woman from Vernon Township, had returned home from a night out with friends when she went missing. Authorities believe she stopped at a local pub after attending a concert in New York City, and when her brother checked her home after she failed to show up for work, he found signs of struggle: a cut phone line, a broken window screen, and disturbance within the house.
The search for McBride concluded four months later when a hunter discovered her remains in Sandyston, New Jersey. The identification of her body was made through dental records, and her death was classified as a homicide. Initially, investigators conducted a thorough inquiry that included hundreds of interviews and a task force supported by the FBI. Despite their efforts, the case remained unresolved for years, leaving her family devastated. George McBride, Lisa’s father, expressed the impact of the loss, remarking that they remembered her in their daily lives and during special occasions.
As the years passed and DNA technology advanced, investigators revisited McBride’s case. New evidence was submitted for forensic analysis in 2020, and in 2022, her remains were exhumed to retrieve clearer DNA samples. A breakthrough occurred in February 2023, when a hit from the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) linked the genetic material to McCaffrey, confirming he had lived in the area at the time of McBride’s disappearance. While prosecutors highlight the importance of this DNA evidence in the case, specific forensic details have not been disclosed.
Additional context has emerged surrounding McCaffrey’s past, particularly concerning the 2012 disappearance of his wife, Marjorie “Gayle” McCaffrey, in South Carolina. He reported her missing after she allegedly vanished during an argument between the couple. His claims raised suspicions, leading to an obstruction of justice charge in 2014 when he was found to have provided false information to investigators. Convicted in 2019, he served a ten-year sentence before his release in early 2023. Although Gayle McCaffrey was declared legally dead in 2018, her body has never been located, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Following McCaffrey’s return to New Jersey, a detention hearing was convened where Judge Janine Allen ruled he would remain in custody pending trial. The judge expressed concerns over community safety and the potential for obstruction of justice. Testimony from a witness suggested that McCaffrey had previously discussed harming McBride, adding weight to the allegations against him. His defense attorney challenged some elements of the DNA evidence and medical findings, but the judge found probable cause for justifying the charges.
In the wake of McCaffrey’s arrest, investigators have pursued various items linked to McBride, including her personal belongings, which authorities suspect he may have kept. A search of McCaffrey’s home has uncovered several items, including weapons and a laptop, although their connection to McBride’s case remains unclear. As he awaits his next court appearance scheduled for mid-May, McCaffrey remains in custody at the Morris County Correctional Facility, while the case continues to develop, drawing attention to decades of unanswered questions surrounding both McBride’s and his wife’s cases.