The Long Branch man charged in connection with the slaying of a 41-year-old Linden woman had coached a girls softball team years earlier.
MONROE -- A Long Branch man accused of slaying a Linden woman had been a coach of a South Brunswick-area softball travel team years earlier and also had faced charges of using a stolen credit card to book a hotel room for a tournament in Florida.
Andre Harris, 32, is facing a charge of murder in connection with the death of a 41-year-old Tyrita Julius, of Linden, whose body was recently found buried in Harris' backyard. A 33-year-old Tinton Falls woman, Jennifer Sweeney, has also been charged in connection with Julius' death.
In November 2011, Harris was accused of using a stolen Discover card to pay for more than $10,000 on hotel rooms in Walt Disney World and to make payments to T-Mobile and Cablevision, authorities said at the time. The team had been in Orlando to participate in a softball tournament.
Tony Wilcenski, director of recreation at the Monroe Township Recreation Department, said Harris several years ago would hold softball practice on the fields at the recreational center.
Wilcenski was shocked when he heard about the charges against Harris. He said Harris had always been cordial and polite.
"We never had any problems with him whatsoever," Wilcenski said. "He was a gentleman at all times, always extremely polite."
He emphasized that the New Jersey Thunder girls travel softball league was not affiliated with the township Recreational Department other than the team's past use of its fields.
In 2011, Wilcenski said the recreational department could no longer accommodate the softball team and allow it to use its fields because the team's practice began to interfere with the programs affiliated with the Department.
Harris was living at the house on Joline Avenue in Long Branch where authorities found the body buried in the backyard. None of the neighbors who spoke to NJ Advance Media had any recollection of Harris.
Earlier this week, authorities were excavating the backyard of Harris' home. Investigators plan to excavate the entire yard.
In addition to charges of murder, Harris and Sweeney are also facing charges of desecration of a body and tampering with evidence as well as charges of trying to kill Julius in a shooting in a November shooting in Linden.
They each are being held in the Monmouth County jail in Freehold in lieu of $1.5 million cash bail.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.