36°
The body of Nicholas Pagano, 31, of West Deptford was found in a wooded area of Waterford Township, in Camden County, a two-hour drive of more than 100 miles from Hackensack, early Tuesday, Feb. 8, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said.
He'd shot himself once in the chest, apparently with a gun that had been stolen from his brother's home, law enforcement sources said.
HUMC employees were notified around 10:30 a.m.
"We have just been informed by officials investigating yesterday's tragic incident at our hospital that the suspect who attacked our team member has been located and is deceased," President & Chief Hospital Executive Mark D. Sparta wrote. "Please continue to keep our team member and her family in your thoughts and prayers."
Musella had warned on Monday that Pagano "should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached by members of the public" following the attack.
Musella released a driver's license photo of Pagano, along with a photo of his Jeep.
Pagano, who recently lived in Hammonton and began working at the hospital last November, was wanted on attempted murder, aggravated arson, aggravated assault and weapons charges.
Authorities said he burned a 54-year-old patient care technician's upper body and lower face with what might have been a culinary torch before smashing her in the head with the plumber's wrench during an argument in a break around 5:15 a.m. Monday.
He then fled in the Jeep, authorities said, adding that there were no witnesses in the lounge and no known motive.
The victim suffered third-degree burns on her upper body and hands, as well as a head wound that required stitches, Musella said.
She was transferred to a burn center, where she was reported in critical but stable condition, after being treated in the HUMC emergency room.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family,” Hackensack University Medical Center said in a statement.
Contracted traveling nurses go to medical centers to assist during staffing shortages, according to the hospital. The vendor that supplies them is responsible for conducting background checks, drug screening and license review, HUMC said.
Musella thanked the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, police from Hackensack, West Deptford, Hammonton, Waterford, Winslow Township, the State Park Police of New Jersey and the Gloucester, Camden and Atlantic county prosecutor's offices.
******
PREVIOUS STORY: A patient care technician was fighting for her life after being attacked before dawn Monday, Feb. 7, by a travel nurse at Hackensack University Medical Center, multiple sources confirmed.
The male attacker apparently burned the victim's upper body and lower face with what might have been a culinary torch before smashing her in the head with a tool -- believed to be a plumber's wrench -- during an argument in a staff lounge shortly before 5:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 7, they told Daily Voice.
He then fled in his car, they said, adding that there were no witnesses in the break room and no known motive.
The victim suffered third-degree burns on her upper body and hands, as well as a head wound that required stitches, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said.
She was transferred to a burn center, where she was reported in critical but stable condition, after being treated in the HUMC emergency room.
Hackensack University Medical Center issued a statement confirming “an incident between a contracted agency nurse” and the staffer in a break room.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family,” the statement said.
Musella's detectives were searching for her assailant, whom they weren't immediately identifying. Daily Voice is temporarily withholding the ID other than to confirm that he most recently lived in Gloucester County and began working at the hospital this past November.
Contracted traveling nurses go to medical centers to assist during staffing shortages, according to the hospital. The vendor that supplies them is responsible for conducting background checks, drug screening and license review, HUMC said.
Prosecutor's detectives were being assisted by Hackensack police and the Bergen County Sheriff's Bureau of Criminal Identification, which collected evidence.
******
NOTE: A previous version of this story described the victim as a nurse. Patient care technicians (PCTs) care for patients with a variety of healthcare needs while being supervised by registered nurses or licensed practical nurses.
******
Click here to follow Daily Voice Mahwah-Ramsey and receive free news updates.
