Suspended NJ cop admits to killing ex-wife in front of 7-year-old daughter, police say

A suspended Neptune police officer pleaded guilty Thursday to charges he chased his ex-wife through the streets of Asbury Park last year and then gunned her down while their 7-year-old daughter was still in his car.

As part of a plea deal with the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, Philip Seidle pleaded guilty to one count each of first degree aggravated manslaughter and second degree endangering the welfare of a child, acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said in a statement late Thursday evening. Seidle had initially entered a not guilty plea on Jan. 27.

According to authorities, the 51-year-old Neptune resident admitted that on June 16, 2015, he chased his ex-wife Tamara Wilson-Seidle through Asbury Park before colliding with her black 2012 Volkswagen Jetta on Sewell Avenue, causing it to crash into another car. As part of his guilty plea, authorities said Seidle also admitted that after the crash, he exited his 2005 Honda Pilot, with his 7-year-old daughter still in the backseat, and pulled out a handgun. He then approached the driver's side of Tamara's vehicle and shot his ex-wife 12 times, authorities said.

Police say Seidle then pointed the weapon at his own head before walking back to the front of Tamara's car and "firing several more shots into the windshield of the vehicle." He turned the weapon on himself again after that, prompting a standoff with police who responded to the scene. He eventually surrendered and was taken into custody, police said.

Seidle's guilty plea took place Thursday during a hearing before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Joseph Oxley.

"As part of his plea agreement with this Office, prosecutors will recommend he be given a 30-year prison term, subject to the provisions of the No Early Release Act, requiring him to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed, or 25 years and six months, before he is eligible for parole," the prosecutor said.

In addition, following his release, Seidle will remain on parole for five years. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 18.

The 22-year veteran of the Neptune Township Police Department was first hired as a patrolman on July 1, 1993. he was promoted to sergeant within the Patrol Division on Jan. 1, 2009 and since the incident, remains suspended without pay.

He remains in Mercer County Correctional Center in Hopewell on $2 million bail.

Toniann Antonelli is the digital managing editor for news at NJ 101.5. Reach her at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.