The Most Popular Stories of 2013

As the year comes to a close, we're taking a look back at the stories that captivated our readers the most and had them clicking and talking in droves.

A quick glance at the top 10 most-read stories reveals, well, a lot of bad news. From a violent home invasion to a murder-attempted suicide involving a husband and wife, crime and tragedy seemed to dominate the headlines in 2013. We swear there was plenty of good news—people just weren't reading it as much.

Here are the most-read stories on Cinnaminson Patch in 2013:

Honorable mentions

The stories that nearly cracked the top 10 included the return of a popular Riverton restaurant, the fate of a Delran woman who faked cancer to bilk friends and family out of thousands of dollars, and the massive fire that destroyed the Dietz & Watson warehouse in Delanco (and continued to be a headache for residents weeks after). When an SUV plowed through the front of Rosvold Pharmacy on Route 130, it certainly got the employees' attentions—and it got readers' attentions too, making it our No. 11 most-read story of the year.

10. Jackknifed Tractor Trailer Closes Rte. 130 in Cinnaminson

This is the most recent story on the list, coming on the heels of last week's surprise snowstorm. A tractor trailer jackknifed on the highway, smashing into the median and causing major backups in the northbound lanes. Fortunately, no one was injured—except for maybe anyone who hurt their hand pounding the steering wheel.

9. Jersey Diner Opens

2013 started off with the sad news that Harvest Diner, a local favorite, was closing its doors forever. However, readers' heartache over its departure was soon overtaken by their excitement for its replacement, Jersey Diner, which opened in October.

8. Victim of Riverton Fatal Shooting ID'ed

Readers followed closely the news of a fatal shooting in sleepy Riverton this fall—the borough's first murder in 30 years. The victim was eventually identified as 22-year-old Te'Aira Denise Earvin, of Youngstown, OH, and friends and family expressed shock and sadness at her tragic passing. 

7. Couple Bring 'Authentic Mexican' to Riverton

Americans like options—in our music, our fashion, our coffee, and most importantly, our food. So when a new Mexican restaurant, Juanita's, opened in Riverton—one of the few "authentic" Mexican eateries in the area—readers were pretty excited.

6 & 5. Authorities Investigate Incident on Westfield Drive/Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Cinnaminson Woman/Cinnaminson Man Stabbed Wife to Death, Authorities Say

A series of stories about a suspicious incident at Westfield Leas in Cinnaminson started out rather cryptically, but when the facts finally came to light—an 83-year-old man accused of brutally stabbing his 81-year-old wife to death inside their home—it was truly horrific. 

4. South Jersey Pair Ran Prostitution House In Popular Retirement Community

Our No. 4 most-read story—about a couple who allegedly ran a sex-for-money operation out of a gated retirement community—didn't even happen around here. It happened all the way over in Manchester in Ocean County. But the sordid story got plenty of attention from local readers.

3. Armed Burglars Assault Kids in Daytime Home Invasion

A frightening story: Four men armed with handguns burst into a Cinnaminson home in August and assaulted the occupants, including two children under the age of 4. Police sought the public's help bringing the suspects to justice and readers spread the news around on social media, but the case remains open. 

2. Woman Dead in Overnight Shooting in Riverton

A woman's body was discovered in the early morning hours of Oct. 13 on Carriage House Lane, an unlit side street in Riverton. It was the borough's first murder in more than 30 years. The police attempted to calm residents' fears, but many seemed relatively unfazed, believing it to be an isolated incident. 

1. 9 Most Violent School Districts in NJ: Palmyra, Burlington Schools On List

Our most-read story of the of the year was also one of our most controversial. Many readers took exception to our list of the most violent school districts in the state—which ranked districts based on a ratio of violent incidents to number of students—believing the formula to be unfair. Four Burlington County school districts, including Palmyra (at No. 6), ended up on the list.

To get Cinnaminson news as it happens, sign up for our daily newsletter and breaking news alerts. Also, "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.