Cape May Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Attempted Murder of Pregnant Fiancée

CAPE MAY, N.J. — A 33-year-old Cape May man will serve eight years in state prison for a brutal series of domestic assaults that nearly killed his pregnant fiancée. John P. Linnington was sentenced on May 16, 2025, following his guilty plea to first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault by strangulation, and third-degree contempt of a judicial order. The charges stem from an investigation by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Special Victims Unit, which began after repeated reports of Linnington’s violent abuse. The assaults occurred while the victim was pregnant. Authorities say Linnington nearly strangled her to death during one of the attacks. Prosecutors formally indicted him in October 2023, and he entered a guilty plea in March 2025 before Cape May County Superior Court Judge Bernard E. DeLury. Under the No Early Release Act, Linnington must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. He was also ordered to have no contact with the victim and will remain under state supervision for five years after his release. Officials emphasized the commitment to prosecuting domestic violence crimes aggressively to protect survivors and uphold justice.