The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jersey • Page 1

rT BABY STORE pill L-V 1 REALLY DELIVERS BUMPY START FOR mTER-RARITAd. HMD OZSllD A Gannett newspaper serving Central Jersey Bridgewater (908) 722-8800 35 Cents SECTION A mm to. ssr i I 1 mi, ii mwrnr jfijiv 1 11 I ii i i t-'i i i vhx i in i i a m- at i mi Take the killer after KV finding developer dead in bedroom 1 -S xsAfC MVj at his mansion. vwfT w'p A Courier News HEALTH CHALLENGE Visit t. mm sJ3L jrX 1 I1 ft3 A ti By TONY SCLAFANI and CHRIS DONAHUE Staff Writers CLINTON TOWNSHIP -A wealthy Central Jersey land developer was shot and killed in his bedroom, rattling the calm of this upscale, rural community and leaving police hunting for the killer.

Michael Parisi, 52, of 5 Corral Circle was killed in his bed by a single shot to the head between midnight Saturday and noon Sunday, acting Hunterdon County Prosecutor Steven Lember said Monday at a news conference in Flemington. Police were called to the lavish mansion at 1:27 p.m. Sunday after someone discovered the body, Lember said. He declined to say who made the call and would not comment about Parisi's appearance. The weapon "doesn't appear to be a handgun," Lem-ber said.

Authorities refused to say whether a weapon had been recovered or if any suspects were being sought or questioned. An autopsy was scheduled for Monday to determine the cause of death, but preliminary reports indicate the gunshot was the cause. Parisi's 1998 silver Corvette also was reported missing, but detectives later found the sports car outside the county and seized the State settles profilingclaims NEWARK Attorneys on Monday announced a legal settlement involving a dozen drivers who allegedly were victims of racial profiling. The state of New Jersey paid $775,000 last week to 12 minority motorists for being unfairly stopped, harassed or beaten by officers who targeted them because of their skin color. Full story, Page A-3 Inspectors will require months BAGHDAD, Iraq U.N.

inspectors took their hunt for banned arms to. science and technology colleges in Baghdad on Monday, and the top nuclear inspector said his teams' mission would take several more months. Full story, Page A-5 i jjCORRAL CIRCLE imiii iw Sr' Correctional 7 -j Site Of Lebanon STAFF PHOTOS BY ED PAGLIARINI Michael Parisi, 52, was found shot in the head afternoon at his Corral Circle home in Clinton Township. vehicle, authorities said. Township police blocked off the entrance to Corral Circle throughout Monday as local and county investigators camped outside the home, which is part of the Haytown Farms development in the quiet, rural mountains of Hunterdon County.

American and Italian flags whipped on a flagpole in Parisi's front yard. iiiuruer i vjs vl 1 III i i Valley Res. Clinton Two. 1 31) HUNTERDON Ex-treasurer of Bound Brook Ford stole funds to foot online jewelry venture, police say. By GRISSA SHOEMAKER Staff Writer An expensive taste in jewelry and the desire to start her very own online jewelers led the former treasurer of Bound Brook Ford to loot the dealership of hundreds of thousands of dollars, authorities said Monday.

While on the run, 35-year-old Sherry Seabolt traveled throughout the United States, left the country twice and attempted to fool law enforcement by parking her car at a Connecticut airport and taking a bus to Texas to "be near the border," a prosecutor said Monday. Seabolt was finally arrested Jan. 3 at the Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic Citv on a warrant accusing her of stealing more than $300,000 from Bound Brook Ford. She was there to meet with a New Yorkjewel-er from whom she bought roughly $600,000 worth of jewelry over the past four years, according to court documents filed last week. On Monday, after Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Murphy detailed Seabolt's two months on the lam, Superior Court Judge Edward M.

Coleman doubled her bail to $150,000 and said that any bail bondsman willing to post the money should be wary. "She's already taken flight. She's already abandoned her residence (in North Plainfield), left her live-in boyfriend, packed her bags and left the country," the judge said. "There's every indication, given the opportunity, she would take flight again." A warrant was issued for Seabolt's arrest Nov. 13, charging her with theft by deception, a second-degree crime carrying five to 10 years in prison.

But by that time, she was already gone. Police contend that Seabolt was forging Bound Brook Ford checks and then buying jewelry to start her own online jewelry business. She also bought a 2002 Ford Mustang and paid off at least $40,000 in credit card debt. Authorities said the scam was uncovered Nov. 6 when a Commerce Bank employee called the dealership to question a $51,000 deposit Seabolt was trying to make.

When confronted, Seabolt resigned and promised to get the money from a Connecticut bank and return it. That night she packed her bags, police said. 1 Readmgton 1 I STAFF GRAPHIC An officer on Monday blocks off the entrance to the Haytown Farms development where 0 minnrn Parisi's mansion Is located. Clinton Township Mayor Tom Borkowski said the killing is the See MURDER, Page A-2 first homicide in the township in at least 25 years. Help on the way for dangerous 1-78 exit Mreevey speech to focus on growth A candy-coated focus on fudge In an era of store-bought and premade goodies, fudge remains the one sweet treat on many amateur confectioners' recipe lists.

We'll talk ingredients and even give you a rundown of some of the area's best places to sate your sweet tooth. Coming Wednesday A periodic look at efforts to improve Interstate highway safety CYBER SURVEY By LARRY HIGGS Staff Writer Hunterdon County officials got the green Monday as in the cash and green light to proceed and hire a consultant to study designs for a long-term solution to Interstate 78's dangerous Exit 15. The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority's board members voted to allocate $450,000 to Hunterdon County to continue a process started by the county in 2000. Hunterdon Freeholder Director Paul Sauerland said residents and drivers are asking for a long-term solution to the Exit 15 nightmare. Residents sought answers at last week's public hearing on an interim project to align an intersection at the west ramp.

They gave us public support to get something done on a larger level," Sauerland said. "This is a major prob- By SANDY McCLURE Gannett State Bureau TRENTON In a short, focused State of the State, Gov. James E. McGreevey will announce today an attack on uncontrolled development in New Jersey, according to aides familiar with the text of the speech. McGreevey who has suffered a difficult first year and whose favorability rating is down in the polls intends to strike a gubernatorial tone, reviewing what he views as his accomplishments, including balancing the state budget, while taking Republicans to task for calling his first year shameful.

The theme of the 35-minute speech will center around the quality of life for New Jersey families and making government work better. McGreevey will declare overdevelopment the great- At a glance Gov. James E. McGreevey's State of the State speech will be broadcast live at 1 p.m. today on New Jersey Network TV.

It can also be seen live on the state's Web site, www.nj.gov. est threat to the quality of life in New Jersey. Citing road congestion, the need for new schools and rising property taxes, the governor will call on the Legislature to create new laws that give local communities planning tools, convey clout to regional planning boards and tap developers for impact fees. McGreevey will argue the fight against sprawl must begin immediately by changing the way the state is developed and focusing money in older suburbs and cities to shift development focus. JVM support President Bush's economic stimulus 1 lem.

Anything we can do toward resolving it will be a good step." The study will look at more than just fixing the Exit 15 ramps. A consultant hired by Hunterdon County said in his 2000 report there are many pieces to solving this puzzle. The preliminary design from consultant URS of New York, which did the plan? GANNETT NEW JERSEY PHOTO Gov. James E. McGreevey prepares Monday for his State of the State address at the governor's mansion In Trenton.

In his first State of the State, McGreevey, who promised on the campaign trail to reduce auto insurance rates, will outline auto insurance reforms that would reduce rates for good drivers, Increase them for bad drivers See ADDRESS, Page A-14 To register your vote and opinion, visit our Web site: www.c-n.com See survey results on Wednesday's Opinion page See EXIT, Page A-14 See THEFTS, Page A-14 For the Courier News online visit us on the Web at www.c-n.com WEATHER HIGH: 27 LOW: 17 Partly cloudy INDEX Astrology C-13 Crosswords Lotteries A-2 Scoreboard C-5 Business A-8 Dear Abby B-5 Movies B-6 Sports C-l Classified C-6 In Jersey A-3 Obituaries Stocks A-9 Comics C-13 Legal ads Opinion A-13 Television B-5 Community Plus B-2 Local B-l People A-2 Your Life B-4 Still cold, cloudy CALL (800) 675-8645 CALL (877) 707-6500 CALL (908) 707-3111 For DAILY home delivery by 6 a.m. To buy a classified advertisement If you have a news tip 0 11 ll409Q1 5 See A-2 VISIT US ON THE WEB AT. 1034 RT.2Z EAST SOMERVILLE 1-800-975-Z500 FIVE STAR OOOftO CHITILII Hi if.