WAKE FOREST, N.C. (WNCN) – A man charged with murdering his neighbors following an ongoing dispute appeared before a judge in Wake County Monday afternoon.
Jonathan Sander, 52, is charged with three counts of felony murder in the deaths of his neighbors, Sandy Mazzella, 47, and his wife, Stephenie Mazzella, 43, and Sandy Mazzella’s mother, Elaine Mazzella, 76, of Raleigh.
He appeared briefly before a judge Monday afternoon. Sander had his own attorney and was read his charges. His next court date is set for April 18 at 9 a.m.
As he was leaving, Richard Sussman, Sandy Mazzella’s brother, shouted, “Sander, you rot in hell you piece of garbage!”
“My brother, his wife [and] my mother were brutally murdered and I hope justice is served,” Sussman later told CBS North Carolina.
He continued, “I hope that in the end this animal or whatever word you want to use — perhaps that’s too kind a word — will get what he deserves.”
Both Sander and Sandy and Stephanie Mazzella lived in the 5900 block of Clearsprings Drive in Wake Forest. The Wake County Sheriff’s Office said Sander shot and killed the trio following an ongoing dispute.
PREVIOUS: 3 shot dead in Wake Forest; Neighbor charged with murder
Two restraining orders were filed against Sander in recent weeks, according to court documents obtained Monday by CBS North Carolina.
He continued, “I hope that in the end this animal or whatever word you want to use — perhaps that’s too kind a word — will get what he deserves.”
Both Sander and Sandy and Stephanie Mazzella lived in the 5900 block of Clearsprings Drive in Wake Forest. The Wake County Sheriff’s Office said Sander shot and killed the trio following an ongoing dispute.
PREVIOUS: 3 shot dead in Wake Forest; Neighbor charged with murder
Two restraining orders were filed against Sander in recent weeks, according to court documents obtained Monday by CBS North Carolina.
Sandy Mazzella filed a no contact order for stalking for nonconsensual sexual conduct against Sander on Feb. 25. His father, Salvatore Mazzella, filed a similar order the following day.
Court documents also show Sander and the Mazzellas were fighting over two vehicles, a 2009 Chevy Corvette and a 2009 Cadillac, and two furniture loans.
Sander filed a complaint against Sandy Mazzella on March 2. The complaint stated, in part, “I was supposed to pay [them] each month and then after they were paid off [the] titles would be transferred to me.”
The case was scheduled to go to trial next month.
Arrest records show Sander was previously charged with communicating threats on Feb. 25, the same day the first restraining order was filed.
A GoFundMe account has been set up for the Mazzella family.
Sander is being held in jail without bond.
PREVIOUS: Officials release 911 calls in Wake Forest triple homicide
