A significant breakthrough has been achieved in a chilling 2020 Homicide case, as authorities recently apprehended a third individual in connection with the fatal Egg Harbor Township Crime that left a young man dead during a botched robbery. This latest development marks a crucial advancement in the ongoing Criminal Justice Update surrounding an incident that has lingered in the community’s memory for five years.
Steven Huff, 32, of Spartanburg, South Carolina, was taken into custody last week and subsequently charged with murder committed during the course of a crime. His arrest in South Carolina brings a new dimension to the protracted investigation, solidifying the narrative of a calculated yet ultimately flawed criminal enterprise that turned deadly.
The victim, Arturo “Arty” Barrera III, then 24, tragically lost his life on January 2, 2020, when police responded to a residence in the 100 block of Vermont Avenue. Officers discovered Barrera suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, and despite immediate response efforts, he was pronounced deceased at the scene, leaving a profound void in his community.
Prior to Huff’s identification and arrest, two co-defendants, Leonard Ludwigsen, 30, of Egg Harbor Township, and Neco Pitts, 32, of Long Branch, Monmouth County, had already been brought to justice. Both men are currently serving 15-year prison sentences after entering guilty pleas for their roles in the Robbery Murder Case, underscoring the severity of the initial judicial outcomes.
A critical turning point in the Cold Case Solved aspect of the investigation involved a compelling offer from prosecutors: Ludwigsen and Pitts were given the opportunity to reduce their sentences to 12 years if they identified and testified against the third elusive individual. This strategic move proved instrumental in advancing the Criminal Justice Update and ultimately leading to Huff’s apprehension.
The incident on that fateful January night in 2020 unfolded around 11:30 p.m., drawing law enforcement to the scene of a home invasion that escalated into a violent confrontation. The intricate details of the crime scene and subsequent investigation formed the backbone of the original pursuit of justice, meticulously piecing together the events of that evening.
Evidence gathered, including statements from Pitts, Ludwigsen, and other witnesses, revealed that Pitts allegedly enlisted Huff’s assistance for the robbery, even arranging for a witness to transport Huff to the location where Pitts and Ludwigsen were preparing. Affidavits indicate that Huff and Pitts shared a childhood friendship, adding another layer of complexity to the Egg Harbor Township Crime narrative and providing key insights into the collaboration of the perpetrators.
