Four children of Egg Harbor Township lost their mother Friday morning, when she was beaten to death with a hammer, allegedly at the hands of the children's father.

Now, the four children are being cared for by their maternal grandmother.

A Go Fund Me page has been set up for the children and for their care.

According to Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner, Sarah Phillips, 28, was killed Friday morning by her boyfriend, Lashawn Smith, 36. Smith is charged with first degree murder.

Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office
Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office
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Police were first called out to the South Zion Road home just after 5am Friday. Phillips was pronounced dead at the scene.

Meanwhile, according to the Go Fund Me page, the children are now in the care of Phillips' mother, Paula Modelle. According to the page, "CPS did a home visit today, and she needs to effect repairs and renovations to her home in the next 60 days to their satisfaction if she wants them to stay with her. Additionally, everything the children own is tied up with the ongoing investigation, so she needs to buy things like pillows and clothes for four children. Not to mention food. The costs add up, and loom over her head like another dark cloud."

The page can be found here. At the writing of this article, $1,930 had been raised.

 

 

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