A Trenton, New Jersey man accused of killing his girlfriend at Bensalem Hotel last January had all charges held over at preliminary hearing Tuesday and now heads to trial.
Orenthia Upshur 51 is charged with the murder of his girlfriend, Maisha Coon, 49, also of Trenton, in a Bensalem hotel on January 15, 2025.
Magisterial District Judge Joseph Falcone presided over the hearing, during which three witnesses, including two law enforcement officers, provided testimony.
The preliminary hearing included testimony from Detective Carlos Estevez of the New Jersey State Police’s Crime Suppression Central Unit. Estevez told the court that during a four-hour police interview, Upshur admitted to killing Coon. According to Estevez, Upshur told detectives that Coon was pleading for help and that he told her, “It’s all going to end tonight.”
The homicide investigation began when a family member entered the Pennsylvania State Police Trevose Barracks at 5:00 a.m. on January 15, reporting that Upshur had admitted to shooting his girlfriend in a Bensalem hotel. The family member also reported that Upshur and Coon had been fighting recently and that he had overheard an argument between them on a phone call at 12:30 a.m.
Authorities used cell phone location data to pinpoint the victim’s location to a cluster of hotels in the area.
Pennsylvania State Troopers checked the Sleep Inn, 3400 block of Street Rd and discovered that Coon had rented a room there. Upon entering, they found her body.
Bensalem Township Detective Brian Oliverio testified to finding Coon’s body with apparent gunshot wounds in Room 317. Oliverio said three spent bullet casings were found in the room, and along with a bullet hole that went from the hotel room into the room below.
Credit: Sunshine Foundation
At approximately 4:30 a.m. on the same day, Trenton Police received 911 call reporting shots fired. When officers arrived, they heard more gunshots and saw an armed individual, later identified as Upshur, run into a home. After a standoff with the Mercer County Tactical Response Team, Upshur was taken into custody. Police also recovered a gun believed to be the one used in the homicide.
Upshur faces charges including criminal homicide, kidnapping, unlawful restraint, persons not to possess firearms, firearms not to be carried without a license, possession of an instrument of crime, false imprisonment, and recklessly endangering another person.
According to online court records, Upshur is being represented by Louis R. Busico, Esq. Upshur is scheduled to be formally arraigned at the Justice Center on October 17,
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