The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office says Gilbert Newton III is facing first- and third-degree murder charges. He was arraigned Monday night and is behind bars without bail.
The victim, Morgan McCaffery, had just graduated from Nazareth Academy and, according to the school’s Facebook page, she was set to go to Manor College to study dental hygiene.
“A young woman with her whole life ahead of her, just graduated from high school, was brutally stabbed to death,” Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said in a statement. “This murder is a tragedy for her family, her friends and everyone who loved her. Sadly, we are seeing relationship violence and domestic violence far too often during this pandemic.”
Tuesday morning, flowers and signs were seen at the spot where she was killed. An online fundraising effort has been started to cover medical and funeral expenses.
Newton was a 2020 Roman Catholic High School graduate, according to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
The school released an offcial statement, which reads, in part: "The entire Roman school community and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are shocked by the recent tragedy and this senseless loss of life. During this time of unimaginable pain and sorrow, we extend our prayerful condolences and deepest sympathy to Morgan’s family and to the Nazareth Academy school community."
Newton's preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 4.