Many in this small rural community say they are torn by the two divergent pictures of Pegg emerging since his death - a man called a "trail angel" for his kindness to hikers, and a man who some say preyed on children
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Clark Fredericks, left, 47, of Fredon and Robert Reynolds, 47, of Hackettstown have been charged in connection with the killing.By Amy Ellis Nutt and Seth Augenstein/The Star-Ledger
NEWTON — Friends and family trickled, slow-motion, through the suffocating heat into the Smith-McCracken Funeral Home in Newton Thursday afternoon. They came in twos and threes, in suits and ties and in sleeveless black undershirts, from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, for the wake of their friend and relative, 68-year-old Dennis Pegg, murdered 10 days ago in his Stillwater home.
Some wiped away tears. Others watched a loop of photos from throughout Pegg’s life play on a laptop.
Just hours earlier, however, the release of the arrest report of the alleged killer, Clark Fredericks, 46, of Fredon, hinted at a darker side to Pegg’s life.
Fredericks, according to his mother, was sexually molested by Pegg when the older man was a Boy Scout leader and Fredericks a scout in Pegg’s local troop. After his arrest, according to the affidavit, Fredericks told police that Pegg "got what was coming to him," adding that Pegg had "been a child molester for years."
Fredericks has been charged with first-degree murder. A friend, 47-year-old Robert Reynolds of Hackettstown, has also been charged as an accomplice.
Fredericks’ attorney, Daniel Perez, would not comment on his client’s statements in the affidavit, saying he did not want to impede the investigation by law enforcement. Perez, however, said he did want to encourage "anyone who may have information related to the case to come forward," especially anyone who might have been victimized by Pegg.
A source close to the case has, in fact, confirmed that "at least one other molestation victim has come forward."
Rumors of a protest at Pegg’s wake caused police to set up orange barricades in front of the First Presbyterian Church across the street and about 100 feet down from the funeral home, None, however, showed up.
Instead, under a broiling second-day-of-summer sun, dozens of people arrived at Smith-McCracken throughout the afternoon and at least another 100 attended the evening wake.
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In the long cool room where Pegg’s body lay in an open casket, a heart-shaped bouquet of red-and-white flowers was prominently displayed emblazoned with the words "Beloved Friend."
Nearby, a tattered straw hat bearing the name "Desperado" was perched on a pedestal. Taken from the eponymous soft-rock song, Desperado was Pegg’s nickname out on the Appalachian Trail, according to friends, where he often helped out hikers in need.
On a table alongside a laptop that played a continuous loop of photos of Pegg, was a framed photo of children in yellow T-shirts grinning at the camera. Underneath, a boy had written neatly, "I love you Mr. Denny. I miss you. You really helped me become a better birder. Thank you. - Chuckie."
A retired officer with the county corrections, Pegg belonged to many police, civic, scouting and nature organizations, including the New Jersey Audubon Society. He was also a past president of the Sussex County Bird Club and a 30-yaer member of the Nature Conservancy.
Many in this small rural community say they are torn by the two divergent pictures of Pegg emerging since his death — a man called a "trail angel" for his benevolence to hikers, and a man who some say preyed on children.
Tom Walsh, an Andover committeeman, said Thursday many people knew "Denny" and that "You always heard the whispers," about being gay or always being surrounded by young children. "But he was such a nice guy, you never paid much attention."
Fredericks, the man accused of stabbing 68-year-old Dennis Pegg to death and Reynolds, his alleged accomplice, remain behind bars on $350,000 bond.
Thor Stender, the owner of the Tuscany Bistro in Newton, said yesterday Fredericks was drinking wine at the bar the night of Pegg’s murder. He spent less than an hour in the bistro, leaving after an argument over money with a business associate, according to Stender. Fredericks then went to a bar called The Greek’s about two miles away where bartender Teddy Rabidis said he "chatted a little bit, about normal stuff, nothing serious," and left around 9 p.m.
What happened over the next couple of hours is unclear. Reynolds, according the arrest affidavit, told state troopers that later that night the two men, armed with knives, drove to Pegg’s small cottage and upon entering the older man’s home, Fredericks "immediately began stabbing Dennis Pegg."
The pair then used Reynolds’ van, which Reynolds later power-washed according to the document, to make their escape.
Fredericks’ mother, Joan, told The Star-Ledger last week her son admitted, years after the fact, to being sexually abused by Pegg. In the affidavit, police say it was Fredericks’ mother, Joan, who told authorities her son returned to her Stillwater home sometime around 2 a.m. on the 13th, where he removed his bloodied clothing and hid the garments, along with the knives. At the time, Joan Fredericks urged her son, who incurred lacerations to his left hand during the attack, to go to the hospital for treatment. Instead, he took sleeping medication and went to bed.
Sometime later in the morning Joan Fredericks called a counselor in Franklin who treated her for several years. The counselor, Diane Howe, met with Clark Fredericks’ sister Wednesday morning. The woman told Howe she believed her brother might have killed Dennis Pegg. Howe notified state police who discovered Pegg’s body in the living room of his home around noon Wednesday with at least 20 stabb wounds and slases to the neck, chest and torso.
A short time later troopers arrested Fredericks at his mother’s house. Fredericks identified Reynolds as his accomplice and police took him into custody as well.
The affidavit also indicated that when Fredericks returned to his mother’s home after the murder, he "stated something to the effect of an insanity defense."
Tony Krucinski, the assistant manager of the Liquor Factory in Andover, knew Pegg for 40 years. Like Walsh, he knew Pegg as hardworking and kind, a good friend. He also knows Clark Fredericks, who came into his store on a regular basis. Krucinski said he is having a hard time reconciling the lively person, always ready with a joke, he knows Fredericks to be, with what he did.
"It’s not just two lives destroyed," he said. "It’s hundreds of lives destroyed. It’s all muddy water."
Star-Ledger staff writer Joe Moszczynski contributed to this report.
Related coverage:
• Affadavit: Murder suspect says Stillwater victim 'Got what was coming to him'
• Suspect's family says years of anger led to attack on retired Sussex County corrections officer
•Jerry Sandusky case may have led Sussex man to kill ex-Scout leader
• Two men charged in connection with killing of retired Sussex County corrections officer
Andre Henderson, in a photo from the Department of Corrections website, was indicted today for allegedly beating a Plainfield police officer.
