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Kishan S. Sheth was arrested on Tuesday, Nov. 19, in Newark following an investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and the Paramus Police Department, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said.
Paramus police conducted a welfare check on Monday, Nov. 18, around 4:08 p.m. at an East Ridgewood Avenue residence, where they discovered Rita Acharya dead on her couch, Musella said.
An investigation revealed Sheth, an acquaintance of Acharya, entered her home, killed her, and tried to hide the crime before fleeing, according to Musella.
Sheth was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree felony murder, first-degree home invasion, and several other offenses, Musella added. He is being held at Bergen County Jail pending his first court appearance.
Acharya was a widow, having lived in Paramus for more than 33 years. She moved to the area with her husband of 35 years, Vinod Chhotalal, who died in 2013, according to his obituary.
Prosecutor Musella thanked the Paramus Police Department, Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, and several other agencies for their assistance in the investigation and apprehension of the suspect.
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