CBS2 Exclusive: Couple Living In Fear After Testifying In Lakewood, N.J. Cop's Murder Trial
LAKEWOOD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- The world has been turned upside down for a family in Lakewood, New Jersey.
As CBS2's Christine Sloan reported, the couple witnessed a murder and testified against the suspect, but now, they are living in fear. They gave their first interview to Sloan on Wednesday.
"Thirty seconds -- your whole life is changed," the woman said.
"Like that – boom, boom," added the man.
The couple's identities are not being released, because they witnessed a Bloods gang member shot and kill Lakewood police Officer Christopher Matlosz as he sat in his patrol car.
"He walked up to him and shot him square in the side of his face, and then he pulled out the gun and pulled it out and pointed at me -- like that," the man said.
It happened back in 2011 in front of their home, in a quiet, suburban section of Lakewood.
"The saddest part about it all was my daughter knew the officer," the woman said. "She went to school with him. They had just came back from the Outer Banks."
The husband and wife picked Jahmell Crockham from a photo lineup. That was when their life was turned upside down.
"They brought us in a room and said we can't go back to our home. I said, 'What do you mean I can't go back to my home?'" the woman said. "They said: 'Well, we can't protect you. You have to really listen to what we're telling you. This is gang-related.'"
The Ocean County Prosecutor's office put the couple in a witness protection program for a year.
"I said, 'How long are we going to be away from our home?'" the woman said. "She said: 'You'll never be able to go back. We're going to have people here within 48 hours to move you out.'"
With two suitcases, the couple moved from hotel rooms to rentals. They could not contact family or friends until the cop killer was convicted.
That happened after a year, and the protection ended.
"It was hard – you're always looking behind you," the woman said.
When asked if they were afraid, the man and woman both said they "absolutely" were.
"I'm afraid not only for myself. I'm afraid for my daughter." The woman said.
CBS2 was there when the National Police Defense Foundation gave the couple a $10,000 cash reward. But now, the couple's attorney is suing the New Jersey Police Benevolent Association, saying the union reneged on a $144,000 reward.
"How dare you," the woman sad. "Me and my family became victims, and you're not going to help us?"
The couple said they are struggling financially because they abandoned their lives, and lost thousands of dollars on their home. The PBA said different agencies offered the money, even though they quoted the amount.
The couple said $10,000 is not enough or right.
"If they don't stand behind people like us, who do you think is going to help them?" the woman said.
But the couple said they would testify in such a case again.
"It would be the right thing to do," the woman said. "What if it was my daughter, my husband, my father – I would want someone to come forth; say: 'That's the murderer. He killed your loved one.'"
The Ocean County Prosecutor's office said it is proud of the how it protected the couple, and will go back to doing so if their lives are in danger. But prosecutors said there is only so much money in the budget.
The National Police Defense Foundation has written to lawmakers asking them to create a bill to provide more security and money to people who testify against criminals.
