Stanhope, NJ Area Cold Cases

cold-case-record__Varshavsky

Name

Boris Varshavsky

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Boris Varshavsky's body was found in a shallow grave, burnt from a fire in a wooded area. The body was described as a Caucasian or light-skinned Hispanic male approximately 25-30 years old, height 5'11", weight 210-230 lbs with black hair and very clean dental work.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Solano

Name

Jose Solano

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Jose "Eric" Solano was involved in an altercation between members of the 18th Street and LaMugre/Los Primos gangs on Suydam Street and Joyce Kilmer Avenue. During the altercation, Solano was fatally wounded. A passing-by civilian was also wounded but sustained no serious injuries.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Lewis

Name

William Lewis

Age

24

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

William "Tweety" Lewis was shot on the back porch of his girlfriend's home at 209 Suydam Street. He was taken to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Lewis had a criminal history and investigators believe he knew his killer.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Santos

Name

Dominic Santos

Age

47

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Dominic Santos, a plumbing contractor, was reported missing. He was last seen driving to his lawyer’s office in Bayonne. He was driving a 1986 Isuzu Trooper with license plate number BAR-80E. He was wearing blue jeans, a blue & white shirt, boots, and a gold wedding band. He had approximately $1,000 in cash at the time.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__No

Name

Jum No

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Jum Kam No was found dead at the Hidden Valley Apartment Complex. She was killed while babysitting an infant son who was unharmed.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Brown

Name

Zarinah Brown

Age

2

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Zarinah Brown, a two-month-old infant, was pronounced dead at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital after becoming unresponsive and having trouble breathing. She was visiting her father in Edison.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Dowd

Name

Francis Dowd

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Francis Dowd was found dead in his apartment on Remsen Avenue. Two individuals were seen in the building within hours of his death. One was a thin white female approximately 25 years old with blond hair wearing a sundress, and the other was a Hispanic looking man approximately 30 years old, stocky build, wearing blue jeans with a wide black belt, a white t-shirt, and black work boots.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__O’Rourke

Name

John O’Rourke

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On December 3rd, 1987, the body of John “Jack” O’Rourke was found inside of his taxi off of Burnet Street in New Brunswick. He had suffered from fatal wounds. A man wearing a black leather jacket was seen in the area was described as white, approximately 28 years old, heavy set with brown shoulder length hair, and clean shaven. If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Lawson

Name

John Lawson

Age

50

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Found dead in the parking lot of Private Formulations Inc. His car was missing, and his pockets were emptied, suggesting robbery.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Hawk

Name

Harry Hawk

Age

35

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Found in the road in front of 27 Richmond Street. He was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries after a week.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Brown

Name

Christopher Brown

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Found dead at the Hess Gas Station. The time of death is unknown.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Parson

Name

Sylvia Parson

Age

24

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Found dead in Buccleuch Park, with injuries from an attack the night before.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Smith

Name

Lawrence Smith

Age

28

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Lawrence Smith, 28, was found shot to death on the grounds of Apco Extrusions factory. His body was discovered by employees finishing up the second shift.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Patel

Name

Dilipkumar Patel

Age

37

Cause of Death

Blunt Force Trauma

Info

Dilipkumar Patel, 37, was murdered during a robbery at his gift shop. The suspects were two black men, described as thin, one 5'7" and the other 5'9", both wearing leather jackets.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Protze

Name

Karl Protze

Age

42

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Karl Protze, 42, was found dead after being shot while getting into his work vehicle. The suspect was described as a white male, medium build, wearing an oxblood leather jacket.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Protze

Name

Karl Protze

Age

29

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Karl Protze was attacked outside the Westinghouse Corporate Trucking Company. He was shot near his truck and later died at Middlesex General Hospital.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Kirsch

Name

Shirley Kirsch

Age

52

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On May 16, 1974, Shirley Kirsch was assaulted at her home by two suspects. One suspect knocked on her door in a Postal uniform, claiming a special delivery. When the door opened, a shot was fired, killing her. The suspects escaped in a Dodge. The weapon was a .38 Caliber revolver.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Sabbatino

Name

John Sabbatino

Age

29

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

John D. Sabbatino, 29, was found dead in Edison after being shot. His death is related to the murder of Jeanne Biondo, whose body was found hours later in Plainfield.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Biondo

Name

Jeanne Biondo

Age

37

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Jeanne Biondo, 37, was found dead in an automobile in Plainfield. She was murdered hours after John D. Sabbatino, and their deaths are believed to be related.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Savage Jr

Name

John Savage Jr

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

John Savage Jr. Was found dead in a wooded area with fatal wounds. His vehicle was later found in the Bronx, and witnesses saw two males wiping it off.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Smith

Name

Sheila Smith

Age

22

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Sheila Smith, 22, was found dead near the Raritan River. She had been missing for over two weeks. The cause of death was a fractured neck and cerebral hemorrhage, possibly from a fall or assault.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Ulrich

Name

George Ulrich

Age

39

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Shot while making night deposit at Edison Bank. Suspects: one white male and one black male in their 20s.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Stephanishen

Name

Karen Stephanishen

Age

31

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Found at Parkside Hotel. Manager at the hotel.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Rubenstein

Name

Anne Rubenstein

Age

41

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

Anne, 41, and her daughter Mae, 11, were found fatally stabbed in their home at 437 South Third Ave by an unknown assailant. No weapon was found, and no suspects were ever identified.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Rubenstein

Name

Mae Rubenstein

Age

11

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

Mae, 11, was stabbed to death in her home at 437 South Third Ave along with her mother Anne. The attack remains unsolved.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Andrews

Name

William Andrews

Age

Cause of Death

Assault

Info

William Andrews was assaulted on Redmond St. And Joyce Kilmer Ave by an unknown attacker. He died later from his injuries.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Puskas

Name

Andrew Puskas

Age

Cause of Death

Explosion (bomb)

Info

Andrew and Patricia Puskas were killed by an explosion caused by a bomb disguised as a package on their front porch. The bomb contained blue glass bottles.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Puskas

Name

Patricia Puskas

Age

Cause of Death

Explosion (bomb)

Info

Patricia Puskas, along with her husband Andrew, was killed by a bomb on their front porch. The bomb contained blue glass bottles.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Tello

Name

Julio Tello

Age

21

Cause of Death

Assault

Info

Julio Cesar Tello was assaulted by several men and died from his injuries. The attack occurred after a dispute with 3-4 men.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Edelman

Name

Irwin Edelman

Age

72

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Irwin Edelman, 72, was shot by an armed robber while attempting to close his check cashing business. The suspect fled the scene and has not been identified.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Reyes

Name

Antonio Reyes

Age

35

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

Antonio Reyes, 35, was stabbed while working at a warehouse. He collapsed from the wound and died. The motive remains unknown.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Fulmer

Name

Mildred Fulmer

Age

72

Cause of Death

Strangulation

Info

Mildred Fulmer was found strangled in her home at Colonial Square Townhouses. She frequented Foodtown Supermarket and Burger King in Edison, and Clark Community Pool in Clark Township. Investigators seek information about any activities near her home between 8:30 PM on October 11 and 12 PM on October 12, 1991.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Higgins

Name

Christopher Higgins

Age

51

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Christopher Higgins, 51, was found near a dumpster behind his apartment on April 7, 2008, after being reported missing on March 28. Investigators are awaiting the autopsy results.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Simons

Name

Jesse Simons

Age

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Jesse Simons was shot and killed on Remsen Avenue in New Brunswick. Video evidence led to three persons of interest, but the case remains unsolved.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Torres

Name

Raul Torres

Age

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Raul A. Torres was found dead in the driver's seat of his truck at the Sears Parking lot in New Brunswick. He was identified as a murdered victim.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Jabbie

Name

Mohammed Jabbie

Age

60

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

Mohammed Jabbie, 60, was stabbed outside a friend's house in New Brunswick at 12:03 AM on November 8, 2009. A group of unknown persons confronted him before the stabbing.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__DiCapua

Name

Travis DiCapua

Age

23

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Travis DiCapua, 23, was shot and killed after leaving Marita's Cantina in New Brunswick. He was confronted by a group of men who shot him and his friend, Jason "Jay" Redecki.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Dennis

Name

Offie Dennis

Age

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Offie Dennis was shot and killed while walking with friends on Senior Street. A blue vehicle fired upon him and his group, then fled the scene.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Averette

Name

Todd Averette

Age

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Todd Averette was found in his vehicle in New Brunswick. Surveillance footage showed a male carrying a bag walking toward Somerset Street. Investigators are seeking leads.

Agency

Middlesex County Crime Stoppers

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cold-case-record__Thor

Name

Sharon Thor

Age

15

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On October 26, 1982, at approximately 5:30 p.M., 15-Year old Sharon Thor was preparing to leave her Franklin Township home for her weekly ballet dance lesson which was three miles away in Bound Brook, when the home telephone rang. Sharon appeared to be pleased to hear from the caller. As soon as she hung up the phone, she told her mother that she would be right back as she rushed outside to the street. She climbed into the passenger side of a vehicle that had pulled up in front of her house, according to a child who had been playing in the front yard. Three days later, at team of searchers found Sharon’s body discarded in a wooded area about a quarter-mile from her home.

Agency

Somerset County Prosecutors

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cold-case-record__Butler

Name

Gary Butler

Age

25

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On February 26, 1996, twenty-five year old Manville resident, Gary Butler was found dead in a retention pond on North Main St in Manville near the border of Bridgewater and the Raritan River. The cause of death as reported by the Regional Medical Examiners Office was multiple blunt force trauma. The investigation revealed that the victim had been at Perhach’s Bar on Main St. In Manville earlier in the evening on February 25th shooting pool with several of the bar’s regular patrons. After leaving the bar sometime after midnight he walked a friend home and then returned to the Chester House where he rented a room on the second floor. Sometime between 2:00 a.M. And 6:00 a.M. The victim managed to travel to the town of Bound Brook. The investigation reveals that Butler was apparently returning to Manville from Bound Brook when he was assaulted.

Agency

Somerset County Prosecutors

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cold-case-record__Tignor

Name

Tamara Tignor

Age

23

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

At approximately 5:00 p.M. On November 4, 1997, the body of an unidentified white female was discovered lying on a dirt cul-de-sac off of Gilbride Rd. In the Township of Bridgewater, New Jersey. The victim was subsequently identified as twenty-three year-old Tamara Tignor a known drug user and prostitute who had recently been living in Newark, New Jersey. Tammy, as many people knew her, was also known to frequent the areas of Somerville, South Bound Brook, Plainfield, and Union Beach. Due to the remoteness of where Tammy was found it is possible that the person(s) responsible for her death may have close ties to the area due to their familiarity with this location. There is also a strong possibility that Tamara was murdered at some other location and subsequently transported to the Gilbride Rd. Area and disposed of from a vehicle.

Agency

Somerset County Prosecutors

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cold-case-record__Kavanaugh

Name

George Kavanaugh

Age

75

Cause of Death

Vehicular Homicide

Info

On March 6, 2015, at approximately 9:27 p.M., 75-Year old Somerville resident George R. Kavanaugh was found lying in the parking lot/sidewalk of the Lincoln Hose Fire Company located on Warren Street in Somerville. Mr. Kavanaugh was struck by an unknown vehicle which left the scene prior to police arrival. Mr. Kavanaugh was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased. A witness told investigating officers that a light-colored sports utility vehicle was observed backing in the driveway of the firehouse and struck George Kavanaugh and then drove onto Warren Street and left the area. The investigation revealed that Mr. Kavanaugh had attended a gathering at the Lincoln Hose Fire Company that night and was leaving when he was struck by a vehicle in the parking lot.

Agency

Somerset County Prosecutors

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