Body Found Identified as Homicide Victim Felicia Mikels

Media Release May 2, 2008

Acting Camden County Prosecutor Joshua M. Ottenberg, Burlington County Prosecutor Robert Bernardi, Pennsauken Police Chief John Coffey, the State Police and Maple Shade Police Chief Ed Vernier reported a body found earlier this week in Pennsauken Creek is that of homicide victim Felicia Mikels.

A surveyor spotted the body about 2 p.m. Tuesday in a marshy area along the Pennsauken Creek near Route 73 North and 5th Avenue. The Medical Examiner of Gloucester/Camden/Salem counties conducted an autopsy Wednesday morning and confirmed the victim's identity Friday using dental records.

Investigators believe Mikels, F/17, of the 6500 block of Rudderow Avenue in Pennsauken, was killed during the night of Jan. 18 at a parking lot in Pennsauken. It is alleged Douglas Mandichak, M/25, of the 200 block of Linwood Avenue in Maple Shade, and Christopher Mikels, M/26, also of the 6500 block of Rudderow, lured the teenager to the lot, where Mandichak beat her to death with a four-by-four piece of wood.

The two men are accused of leaving Mikels body in the creek near Fork Landing Road in Cinnaminson and abandoning her 5-week-old baby girl. The child was found off Marlowe Road in Cherry Hill the morning of Jan. 19.

Both men are charged with Murder. They are being held in the Camden County Jail awaiting a Grand Jury review of the charges.

All persons charged with criminal offenses are innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of l