A Trenton woman pleaded guilty to manslaughter Tuesday for the death of her boyfriend, who firefighters pulled from a burning home in the city in October 2022.
Shameka Blackwell, 48, is scheduled to be sentenced in late August, in Superior Court of Mercer County, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office said. The second-degree charge carries up to 10 years in state prison.
Blackwell originally faced murder, felony murder and arson charges following the Oct. 23, 2022, fire on Summer Street, off Calhoun Street, that killed Brian Wharton, 57.
Wharton and Blackwell were in a dating relationship and police had been at the home shortly before the fire for a domestic incident, authorities said.
Shortly after midnight, Trenton firefighters found an intense blaze at the home, with flames shooting from both windows on both floors. Notified that someone may be inside, firefighters went into the burning home and found Wharton on the first floor and made a valiant attempt to save his life.
They pulled him out, but he was fatally injured and died a short time later, the fire department said at the time.
Detectives charged Blackwell a few days after the fire and she’s been in the Mercer County jail since, awaiting trial.
The Office of the Public Defender represented Blackwell. The office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
Wharton’s family recalled him in his obituary as a helpful man who always said, “I got it!” He was working for manufacturer Trane when he died.
The executor of Wharton’s estate, his spouse Patricia Wharton, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Blackwell in late 2024 in which she accused Blackwell of starting the fire and causing Wharton pain and suffering, court records show.
Patricia Wharton recently won a default judgement against Blackwell, which is pending another hearing in civil court in Mercer County.
Stories by Kevin Shea
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Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com