Shivangi Sinha
In July 2020, while driving on a highway in Edison County, New Jersey, Daniel McAdams was involved in a violent incident. Shortly after, his girlfriend, Cassandra Gonsalves, who was with him at the time, called 911 to report that he had been stabbed. Authorities quickly arrived and transported him to the hospital, but despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries a couple of weeks later. The case is explored in the A&E episode of ‘Accused: Guilty or Innocent?’ titled ‘Self-Defense Stabbing or Road Rage Killer?.’ It delves into the events surrounding the incident and explores whether investigators were able to identify who was responsible.
Daniel McAdams Was Stabbed on the Side of the Road in New Jersey
Daniel McAdams was known for his warmth and kindness, and many people in his life cared deeply for him. His girlfriend, Cassandra Gonsalves, spoke fondly of his good nature and the positive energy he brought into the world. On July 30, 2020, the couple was driving along the highway in Edison, New Jersey, after a routine day of running errands. It was meant to be an ordinary afternoon, but everything changed in an instant. Cassandra made a frantic 911 call from the side of the road and reported that Daniel had been stabbed with a knife.
When emergency responders arrived, they found her desperately trying to stop the bleeding by pressing a t-shirt to his chest. Daniel was rushed to the hospital and remained under intensive care for two weeks. Despite the efforts of the medical team, his injuries proved to be too severe, and he passed away. His death, initially ruled accidental, left his loved ones devastated and searching for answers. The police quickly launched an investigation to determine what had led to the violent incident and who might be responsible.
Daniel McAdams’ Accused Killer Claimed He Had Acted in Self-Defense
The first step the police took in their investigation was to collect CCTV footage from the surrounding area. In addition to that, they also obtained a video recorded by Cassandra Gonsalves during the incident, which clearly showed a man rushing toward Daniel McAdams and stabbing him with a knife. From the footage, authorities were able to capture the license plate number of the car the suspect had been driving. This led them to identify the man as Marquann Campbell from Trenton, New Jersey. With enough evidence linking him to the crime, the police quickly secured an arrest warrant and took him into custody on the charge of first-degree murder. During his interrogation, Marquann shared his version of the events that unfolded on July 30, 2020.
He explained that he had been driving with his then-girlfriend and their 2-year-old son after picking up some food from Menlo Park Mall, New Jersey. As they merged onto the highway, he said that they accidentally cut in front of another car, and that is where the alleged aggression began. He alleged that the woman in the passenger seat made an obscene gesture toward him. He further alleged that when he pulled up alongside their car, she spat at his window and threw a cup filled with coins at his vehicle. Marquann claimed that he felt threatened and unsafe, especially because his baby was in the car. He said the alleged behavior from the other vehicle continued for over three miles. When they reached the next red light, he got out of his car, intending to confront the people inside, but things quickly escalated into a physical altercation.
According to Marquann, it was Daniel who first pulled out a knife, and only upon seeing that did he retrieve his own. He insisted that he had no intention of causing serious harm and acted purely out of self-defense. He also said that when he left the scene, he had no idea that the wound he inflicted would prove to be fatal. The police also brought Cassandra in for questioning multiple times. During her first two interrogations, she did not mention any aggressive behavior on their part, but in the third, she admitted that she had handed Daniel the knife that day. Meanwhile, Marquann’s defense team grew concerned that the video Cassandra had recorded could be incriminating. In the footage, Marquann was seen lunging toward her boyfriend after he had already fallen and then stabbing him. They feared it could undermine their self-defense claim in court.
Marquann Campbell is a Free Man Today
Marquann Campbell’s trial began in 2022, by which time his defense team had successfully negotiated a reduction of his charges to second-degree manslaughter. This carried a potential sentence of up to 10 years. By then, his former girlfriend—who had been with him during the 2020 incident—had moved out with their son. Marquann had since married Rya Ortiz, with whom he also had a daughter. His legal team opted for a bench trial, during which they argued that Daniel McAdams and Cassandra Gonsalves had been the aggressors that day.
No charges were filed against the latter in relation to the incident. Marquann himself took the stand to recount his version of events. Ultimately, the judge ruled him not guilty and ordered that the arrest record be expunged. Marquann is now a free man, likely living in Trenton, New Jersey, with his family. He maintains a low profile and is thankful to have put the ordeal behind him.
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