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By: Hal C Clarke
Fred Neulander, aged 82, was discovered unresponsive in the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton and later pronounced dead at Capital Health Regional Medical Center.
Neulander, the founder of Congregation M’kor Shalom Reform Jewish synagogue in Cherry Hill, was involved in a notorious murder case from three decades ago, NY POST reported.
His wife, Carol Neulander, co-founder of the popular bakery Classic Cakes, was found bludgeoned to death in their home in 1994. Initially staged as a botched robbery, the investigation later revealed Neulander’s involvement in orchestrating her murder.
The motive? Neulander sought to continue his extramarital affair with Philadelphia radio personality Elaine Soncini. He allegedly paid hitmen $30,000 to carry out the crime, fearing divorce would tarnish his reputation within the community.
During trial proceedings, witnesses, including Soncini and Neulander’s own children, testified against him, corroborating his involvement in Carol’s murder. Despite a hung jury in the first trial, Neulander was eventually convicted and sentenced to 30 years to life in prison.
The case garnered significant media attention, leading to adaptations in books, documentaries, and even a musical. While Neulander’s accomplices were released from prison in 2014, his conviction stood firm, with an unsuccessful attempt to overturn it in 2016.
Reflecting on Neulander’s legacy, Rabbi Jannifer Frenkel of Congregation Kol Ami, the successor of M’kor Shalom, emphasized the congregation’s focus on the future, distancing themselves from Neulander’s actions and values.
Fred Neulander’s death marks the end of a chapter in a tale of betrayal and tragedy that shook the Cherry Hill community and reverberated throughout the nation. His demise in prison raises questions about justice, redemption, and the enduring impact of his crimes on those he left behind.
Born in 1939, Neulander grew to become a prominent figure in the Jewish community, founding Congregation M’kor Shalom in 1974. His involvement in various charitable and religious endeavors earned him respect and admiration among his peers. However, beneath the veneer of piety lay a darker reality of deceit and moral bankruptcy.
The murder of Carol Neulander sent shockwaves through Cherry Hill and beyond. The carefully orchestrated plot to eliminate his wife, fueled by lust and greed, shattered the illusion of marital bliss and exposed the depths of human depravity. Neulander’s callous disregard for human life and the sanctity of marriage appalled all who followed the case.
Despite attempts to portray himself as a pillar of the community, Neulander’s true nature was laid bare during the trial. Testimony from witnesses painted a damning picture of a man consumed by his desires, willing to resort to murder to satisfy them. The revelation of his affair with Elaine Soncini further tarnished his reputation and left a stain on his legacy that would never fade.
In the years following his conviction, Neulander languished in prison, his once-influential voice silenced by the walls of his cell. While justice was served for Carol Neulander and her family, the scars left by her untimely death would never fully heal. As Fred Neulander takes his final breath, his passing serves as a somber reminder of the fragility of life and the consequences of succumbing to temptation.
