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Mark Hunt, 52, attacked the 53-year old woman at her home in Teaneck last Feb. 22, leaving her with several skull fractures and a significant loss of blood, authorities said at the time.
He then stole her 2006 Honda Pilot and $1,100 in cash and fled, hiding out in Maywood, they said.
Four days later, a Maywood police officer spotted the vehicle on Beech Street in town and tried pulling it over – but Hunt hit the gas and sped off, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said at the time.
CLIFFVIEW PILOT first broke the story: Route 208 crash, arrest ends chase of Teaneck attempted murder suspect
Paramus and other agencies joined the chase after it moved through Paramus, onto Route 4 West and, ultimately, onto Route 208 West, the prosecutor said.
Hunt lost control of the car on Route 208 at North Ewing Avenue in Franklin Lakes and it slammed into a tree. He was taken into custody after a brief struggle, Molinelli said.
A public defender entered a not guilty plea on Hunt’s behalf yesterday.
Presiding Superior Court Judge Liliana DeAvila-Silebi then ordered both sides to return March 2.
Besides attempted murder, Hunt is charged with armed robbery, eluding and weapons possession. His bail has remained at $500,000.
He has challenged the armed robbery charge, saying it was actually a dispute over money. His attorney has claimed that the woman had a knife and that his client “freaked out.”
Hunt had an extensive criminal record before then:
2008: guilty plea to assault;
2006: burglary;
2003: theft;
2002: theft charges downgraded; pleaded guilty to obstruction of government operations;
1999: theft charges downgraded;
1997: guilty plea to theft;
1994: theft charge dismissed in plea bargain.
In Passaic County he pleaded guilty to theft in 2000 and had another charge of theft merged the same year, records show.
The indictment returned by a grand jury in Hackensack last month alleges that Hunt:
• attempted to cause the victim’s death ;
• caused serious bodily injury under “circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life; recklessly caused serious bodily injury to same”;
• caused serious bodily injury while committing a theft;
• caused bodily injury with a deadly weapon;
• illegally possessed a weapon (two counts);
• stole her car;
• fled and attempted to elude police in three towns “after receiving a signal to stop,” and “operated the vehicle in a manner to create a risk of death or injury;
• gave police false information to hinder his arrest.
STORY / PHOTOS: CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter Mary K. Miraglia
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