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NJ Man Convicted Of Beating Mom To Death, Prosecutor Says
A 38-year-old Maplewood resident was convicted on Monday, Oct. 21 of murder charges in his mother's death, which he then framed as a suicide, authorities said.
Benjamin Avrut was found guilty of first-degree murder after beating his 70-year-old-mothe Gwen to death, Prosecutor Theodore Stephens said. The jury had rejected Avrut's insanity defense.
On Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, Avrut entered his sleeping mother's apartment at The Top, a luxury condominium in Maplewood, Stephens said. When she awoke, Avrut beat her to death with his fists, Stephens said.
Avrut, who had a hist…
Philly Man, Two Brothers Indicted In Woman's Killing In Atlantic City: Prosecutors
Three Philadelphia men were indicted after two women were shot in the head in Atlantic City, including one who died, authorities said.
A grand jury indicted 34-year-old Gregg Page for murder, attempted murder, and several weapons charges on Wednesday, Oct. 2, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release. Two brothers, 30-year-old Ryan Schenck and 27-year-old Ramir Schenck, were also indicted for hindering apprehension.
Atlantic City police responded to a report of two women severely injured on North Main Avenue at around 4:41 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1. Officers found the vi…
Clifton's Michael Rodriguez Dies At 24 With Unborn Daughter On The Way: Campaign
Michael Rodriguez of Clifton died on Thursday, July 11. He was 24 years old.
According to his obituary published on the Legacy website, Michael, affectionately known as Mikey, is being remembered for his "kind heart, radiant smile, and boundless curiosity," along with his "humor and the joy he brought to those around him."
A GoFundMe launched for Michael's family had raised more than $13,800 as of Saturday, July 20. The campaign was launched by his cousin, Ashley Hernandez, who says he had a baby girl on the way.
"As we come to terms with this tragedy, we aim to honor Michael’s legacy…
Drugged Driver Takes Plea In Route 23 Gas Station Crash That Killed Dad, Teenage Son, Attendant
UPDATE: A drug-addicted Sussex County driver who killed a father, son and gas station attendant in a horrific crash on Route 23 in Wayne two years ago will be sentenced to a minimum of 25½ years without parole after pleading guilty Friday to three counts of aggravated manslaughter, authorities said.
Jason Vanderee, 29, told a state judge in Paterson that he’d used heroin and fentanyl in combination with other drugs when he blacked out behind the wheel on Feb. 19, 2019.
Jon Warbeck, a former Carlstadt firefighter from Fair Lawn and his 17-year-old son, Luke, of Lincoln Park, had stopped for…
NJ Senate Approves Bill Aimed At Preventing OD Deaths
The New Jersey Senate on Thursday approved a proposed law that would require doctors to prescribe Narcan when writing opioid pain management prescriptions for high-risk patients.
At least seven states now require co-prescribing Narcan (naloxone) with opioids: Arizona, Florida, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.
Laws in California and Ohio require prescribers to offer naloxone co-prescriptions in certain circumstances.
“It can make a difference in New Jersey, as well,” said state Sen. Anthony M. Bucco, R-Boonton, a co-sponsor of the measure, which had bi-partisan su…
Meet Recovering Addict From NJ On 'The Bachelorette'
New Jersey native Zac Clark has a shot at love on this season of "The Bachelorette."
Clark, 36, formerly of Haddonfield, is vying for a chance with Tayshia Adams, 30.
The season started with Clare Crawley, 39, as the bachelorette, but she left after four episodes with contestant Dale Moss. The pair are now engaged.
Clark, a Philly sports fan and former college baseball player, was one of the first few men to pull Adams aside on her show debut Tuesday night. He hasn't shared his inspirational story on-air -- yet.
Clark was addicted to alcohol and pills as a teen, Reading Eagle reported i…
Rapes, Beatings, Brandings: Paterson Sex-Trafficking Ring 'Defied Humanity,' FBI Chief Says
A Paterson convict ran a sex-trafficking ring from a New York prison, having the women he controlled raped, beaten and branded with his name, with help from his ex-wife and another accomplice, federal authorities said Thursday.
Jean "Poison" Noriega, 48, used “violence, threats of violence, threats of drug withdrawal, and other means, to compel the victims to engage in commercial sex for his profit, including after his incarceration in New York in 2017,” U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said.
Noriega had help controlling the drug-dependent victims from Enna Gonzalez, 53, and John "Peachy,” Oyo…
Wrong-Way Driver High On Heroin Sends 3 To Hospital In Head-On Elmwood Park Crash
An adult and two youngsters were injured when an unlicensed, out-of-town drug addict high on heroin crashed his car into theirs while driving on the wrong side of the road in Elmwood Park, authorities said.
Kyle Apgar, 29, kept going before his car struck two parked vehicles around 8:15 p.m. Saturday, Police Chief Michael Foligno said.
The victims, whose car was struck on Broadway, weren’t seriously injured, he said
Police found a hypodermic syringe and heroin in Apgar's car after it hit the two parked vehicles on Bellevue Avenue and came to a stop, Foligno said.
Apgar, who the chief sai…
