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Police & Fire
8-Year-Old Girl Dies In NJ House Fire, 9-Year-Old Critical 8-Year-Old Girl Dies In NJ House Fire, 9-Year-Old Critical
8-Year-Old Girl Dies In NJ House Fire, 9-Year-Old Critical An 8-year-old girl was killed in a house fire in Somerville on Dec. 10 and her 9-year-old sister in critical condition, according to officials. The fire ripped through a two-story home on Eastern Avenue just after 2 a.m. and Somerville firefighters rushed to save several residents but were unable to save the little girl, identified in a GoFundMe page as Cece, 8. Rebecca Nash and her daughters, Juliana and Cece.Rebecca Nash (Facebook photo) Anthony, 31, Rebecca, 41, and Juliana, 9, were able to escape, while Cece -- the youngest -- could not. She remained trapped on the second floor in …

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by Joe Gomez
News
Feds Charge Somerset County Data Analyst With Trafficking Child Porn Feds Charge Somerset County Data Analyst With Trafficking Child Porn
Feds Charge Somerset County Data Analyst With Trafficking Child Porn A data analyst from Somerset County was charged with trafficking child porn following an undercover investigation, federal authorities said. Marc-Evan Manasse, 27, Somerville “distributed material containing images and video files of child sexual abuse” on a file-sharing network, Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Rachael A. Honig said. Detectives went undercover to access five video files and 11 images containing child sexual abuse from an IP address at Manasse’s home, Honig said. The files included “multiple visual depictions of pre-pubescent children being sexually abused by adults,” s…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Autopsy Results Released For NJ Kids Killed By Mom: Prosecutor Autopsy Results Released For NJ Kids Killed By Mom: Prosecutor
Autopsy Results Released For NJ Kids Killed By Mom: Prosecutor The autopsy results for a pair of siblings apparently killed by their own mom were released by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Friday. The cause of death for both Samantha Ross, 7, and Paul Ross, 11 months, was asphyxia by airway obstruction and the manner of death was homicide, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. Yuhwei ChouSomerset County Prosecutor's Office The Skillman siblings were found bound and restrained in the back of their mom Yuhwei Chou's car early Tuesday morning, the prosecutor said. Chou was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. The …

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Babysitters Mourn Loss Of NJ Kids Found 'Bound & Restrained' In Mom's Car Babysitters Mourn Loss Of NJ Kids Found 'Bound & Restrained' In Mom's Car
Babysitters Mourn Loss Of NJ Kids Found 'Bound & Restrained' In Mom's Car Two children who died after a tow truck driver found them bound and restrained in the back of their mom's car are being remembered by their babysitters. Gabriella Armijos told Daily Voice that 11-month-old Paul and his 7-year-old sister Samantha lit up a room with their "bright smile and laughter. The children's mom, Yuhwei Chou, of Skillman, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. "Paul was like the perfect baby, he always had a smile on his face when he saw either my aunt or myself," she said. "He was such a lovable child.  "Samantha was always curious and lov…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
'BOUND & RESTRAINED': NJ Mom Accused Of Killing 2 Kids Found Dead In Car 'BOUND & RESTRAINED': NJ Mom Accused Of Killing 2 Kids Found Dead In Car
'Bound & Restrained': NJ Mom Accused Of Killing 2 Kids Found Dead In Car A 36-year-old New Jersey mom was charged with two counts of first-degree murder after her two young children were found "bound and restrained" -- and dead -- in the back seat of her car, authorities said. A 911 call was received around 7:40 a.m. Tuesday, reporting a disabled vehicle on Mountain View Road in Hillsborough, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office. Responding officers found the driver, Yuhwei Chou, of Skillman, and two children -- one in a booster seat and the other in a baby seat -- bound and restrained in the car's back seats, authorities said. Investigators det…

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by Nicole Acosta
Police & Fire
NJ Fencing Coach, Columbia U Champ Who Sexually Assaulted 2 Teens Lied Under Oath: Prosecutor NJ Fencing Coach, Columbia U Champ Who Sexually Assaulted 2 Teens Lied Under Oath: Prosecutor
NJ Fencing Coach, Columbia U Champ Who Sexually Assaulted 2 Teens Lied Under Oath: Prosecutor A New Jersey fencing coach was arrested for sexually assaulting two teenagers then gave false statement in his detention hearing, authorities said. A 16-year-old girl reported being sexually assaulting by Stephen Kovacs, 49, of Watchung, in Bridgewater in August and September 2021, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said.  Then, a 19-year-old woman said she was also sexually assault by Kovacs -- formerly of Clifton -- when she was 18, Robertson said. The victim earlier this month disclosed incidents of sexual assault that occurred in Bridgewater from January 2020 to …

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
3 Women Sexually Assaulted By Unknown Male In Hillsborough, Authorities Say 3 Women Sexually Assaulted By Unknown Male In Hillsborough, Authorities Say
3 Women Sexually Assaulted By Unknown Male In Hillsborough, Authorities Say Authorities in Hillsborough are seeking the man who sexually assaulted females three different times in Hillsborough earlier this month. The first incident occurred on Oct. 7, when a female walking her dog on Farm Road was approached by an unknown white man around 7:30 p.m., the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office said. The man approached the victim and began groping her while asking her to kiss him, Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. The man ran when the victim threatened to scream. The victim described the suspect as a Caucasian male in his early 20’s, approximately 5’9” with med…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Somerset County Man Tried Selling Child Porn On Social Media, Prosecutor Says Somerset County Man Tried Selling Child Porn On Social Media, Prosecutor Says
Somerset County Man Tried Selling Child Porn On Social Media, Prosecutor Says A Somerset County man was arrested for child porn possession and trying to sell the images over social media, authorities said Thursday. Agents with the US Department of Homeland Security and other local officials raided Siddh B. Shah's Winding Way home in Hillsborough on Sept. 30, seizing computers and other electronic devices, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, said. An investigation found Shah had uploaded more than 200 images depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child, Robertson said. The investigation also found that Shah was selling the child p…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
NJ Coach Knew About Colleague's Relationship With Teen But Did Nothing To Stop It: Prosecutor NJ Coach Knew About Colleague's Relationship With Teen But Did Nothing To Stop It: Prosecutor
NJ Coach Knew About Colleague's Relationship With Teen But Did Nothing To Stop It: Prosecutor A New Jersey teacher and athletic coach was arrested for sexually assaulting a teen student, and another school employee was charged with knowing about it -- but not doing anything to stop it, authorities said. Matthew J. Rennie, 30, of Ringoes, became the center of an investigation when the 17-year-old female reported the alleged abuse to Franklin Township police, the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office announced. The incidents occurred between July and September 2021 in Montgomery and East Amwell (Hunterdon County), Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. The investiga…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Somerset County Authorities Seek Woman Wanted On Multiple Charges Somerset County Authorities Seek Woman Wanted On Multiple Charges
Somerset County Authorities Seek Woman Wanted On Multiple Charges Authorities in Somerset County are seeking the public's help locating a woman they say is wanted on multiple charges. An arrest warrant for Tameeka R. Smith, of Carteret, was issued on Thursday for charges of hindering apprehension, obstruction, and eluding, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office. She is described as 5'8" and approximately 155 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. Anyone with information pertaining to the whereabouts of this individual should contact the Somerset County Communications Center at (908) 526-2500 and ask for the Somerset County Pr…

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by Nicole Acosta
Police & Fire
NJ R&B Singer Jaheim Abused 15 Dogs Some In Water-Filled Crates, Emaciated, Prosecutor Says NJ R&B Singer Jaheim Abused 15 Dogs Some In Water-Filled Crates, Emaciated, Prosecutor Says
NJ R&B Singer Jaheim Abused 15 Dogs Some In Water-Filled Crates, Emaciated, Prosecutor Says New Jersey R&B singer Jaheim Hoagland has been arrested for abusing 15 dogs -- some severely emaciated and others found in crates filled with several inches of water, authorities said. Hillsborough police officers responded to a Chamberlain Drive home on reports of a puppy in distress around 9:15 a.m. Sept. 6, where they found six dogs in separate animal crates in the driveway of the home, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said. One of the dogs was initially unresponsive in a water filled crate and subsequently had to be euthanized, Robertson said alongside Somer…

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by Cecilia Levine
Weather
IDA: Death Toll Climbs To 23 In New Jersey IDA: Death Toll Climbs To 23 In New Jersey
IDA: Death Toll Climbs To 23 In New Jersey The death toll caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida that tore through New Jersey Wednesday had climbed to 23 as of Thursday afternoon, Gov. Phil Murphy said at a press conference. Most of these deaths were individuals who got stuck in vehicles due to flooding and were overtaken by water, he said from fire station in Hillsborough. The governor reminded residents New Jersey is still in the midst of Ida, and urged people not to travel. Those who died include: Four Elizabeth residents -- a couple ages 71 and 72, their 38-year-old son and a 33-year-old neighbor. Their bodies were found by…

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by Cecilia Levine