Overcast 27°
News
'Coward': Family Of Woman, 19, Killed In Car In Hackensack Speaks Out 'Coward': Family Of Woman, 19, Killed In Car In Hackensack Speaks Out
'Coward': Family Of Woman, 19, Killed In Car In Hackensack Speaks Out The family of a 19-year-old Bloomingdale woman coming to terms with her sudden death was also trying to come up with money for her funeral. More than $1,200 had been raised as of Nov. 15 on a GoFundMe launched by relatives of Francis Veronica Garcia. "My sister's life was suddenly shortened by a coward leaving us with a deep sorrow," page founder Luis Banegas said, who put funds toward his sister's funeral. Michael Gaffney, 21, of Maywood, was arrested and charged with reckless manslaughter following an autopsy on Garcia, who'd been with him at a party in a Hackensack high-rise apartment …

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
News
Maywood Man Sent Snapchat Of Unconscious Woman Before Getting Help, Report Says Maywood Man Sent Snapchat Of Unconscious Woman Before Getting Help, Report Says
Maywood Man Sent Snapchat Of Unconscious Woman Before Getting Help, Report Says "Just f***ed this b***h. I don't know what to do." That was the caption on the Snapchat photo 21-year-old Michael Gaffney took of an unconscious Bloomingdale's Francis Garcia, 19, just before she died. Gaffney sought help from friends soon after, but state Superior Court Judge Margaret Foti couldn't understand why Snapchatting a photo of Garcia's body in the backseat of the car Nov. 2 was his first reaction. Gaffney's actions that fateful night beg the question: If the Snapchat wasn't sent and help was gotten sooner, would Garcia be alive today? "I do find it curious that when a woma…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
GoFundMe Launched For Maywood Man Charged With Killing Woman Outside Hackensack Party GoFundMe Launched For Maywood Man Charged With Killing Woman Outside Hackensack Party
GoFundMe Launched For Maywood Man Charged With Killing Woman Outside Hackensack Party UPDATE: A GoFundMe campaign seeks to raise money toward "fair representation" for a 21-year-old Maywood man charged with killing a 19-year-old Bloomingdale woman who'd been with him at a party in a Hackensack high-rise apartment. Fund raising for Michael T. Gaffney is necessary "in a world where the media is able to spin anything to match their agenda," wrote his 22-year-old sister, Samantha Gaffney, who organized the campaign. Gaffney recklessly caused the death of Francis Victoria Garcia, who was with him in the back seat of a car parked on the top level of a garage at 140 Prospect Avenu…

SHARE

by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Maywood Man, 21, Charged With Killing Bloomingdale Woman In Car Outside Hackensack Party Maywood Man, 21, Charged With Killing Bloomingdale Woman In Car Outside Hackensack Party
Maywood Man, 21, Charged With Killing Bloomingdale Woman In Car Outside Hackensack Party UPDATE: A 21-year-old Maywood man was charged with reckless manslaughter Saturday following an autopsy on a 19-year-old Bloomingdale woman who'd been with him at a party in a Hackensack high-rise apartment. Michael T. Gaffney recklessly caused the death of Francis Victoria Garcia, who was with him in the back seat of a car parked on the top level of a garage at 140 Prospect Avenue, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. "Compression injuries" were found around Garcia's neck, indicating that asphyxiation killed her -- and not a drug overdose -- according to the Bergen County Medical Ex…

SHARE

by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Maywood Man, 21, Charged In Death Of Bloomingdale Woman, 19, In Car Outside Hackensack Party Maywood Man, 21, Charged In Death Of Bloomingdale Woman, 19, In Car Outside Hackensack Party
Maywood Man, 21, Charged In Death Of Bloomingdale Woman, 19, In Car Outside Hackensack Party UPDATE: A 21-year-old Maywood man was charged with reckless manslaughter Saturday following an autopsy on a 19-year-old Bloomingdale woman who'd been with him at a party in a Hackensack high-rise apartment. Michael T. Gaffney recklessly caused the death of Francis Victoria Garcia, who was with him in the back seat of a car parked on the top level of a garage at 140 Prospect Avenue, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. "Compression injuries" were found around Garcia's neck, indicating that asphyxiation killed her -- and not a drug overdose -- according to the Bergen County Medical Exa…

SHARE

by Jerry DeMarco
News
GRAPHIC: Sweet Passaic County Pit Bull Attacked By Dog Siblings GRAPHIC: Sweet Passaic County Pit Bull Attacked By Dog Siblings
Graphic: Sweet Passaic County Pit Bull Attacked By Dog Siblings A 6-year-old pit bull who was attacked by his two dog siblings is being put up for adoption so he will be in a safer environment, said the Bergen County rescue that helped save him. Capone came from a loving home in Bloomingdale with two other dogs and a baby, and often had playdates with his grandmother's cat, Ramapo-Bergen Animal Rescue said in a joint statement with Jersey Pits Rescue. The sweet pit bull was often picked on by the other dogs in the house and on Wednesday night, was viciously attacked, rescue officials said. It became apparent to his family that he was no longer safe at…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Wayne Police Officer Braves Flames, Dog Dies In House Fire Wayne Police Officer Braves Flames, Dog Dies In House Fire
Wayne Police Officer Braves Flames, Dog Dies In House Fire Flames and smoke kept a Wayne police officer from rescuing a dog who died in a house fire, authorities said. Township police, firefighters and First Aid Squad members responded to what began as a garage fire on Sycamore Terrace around 8:20 a.m. Tuesday, Detective Capt. Christian Wittig said. A resident told Corporal Robert Feeney that her dog was inside, Wittig said. Feeney went in trying to rescue the dog but had to retreat after several attempts due to the fire and smoke, the captain said. Firefighters retrieved the dog, but resuscitation efforts failed, Wittig said. Corporal Robert Hi…

SHARE

by Jerry DeMarco
News
Pair Nabbed In Burglaries Of Nearly 40 North Jersey Concession Stands Pair Nabbed In Burglaries Of Nearly 40 North Jersey Concession Stands
Pair Nabbed In Burglaries Of Nearly 40 North Jersey Concession Stands Two people were arrested in a string of more than 40 Little League concession stand burglaries occurring across North Jersey since April, authorities said. Michael J. Kalouis, 31 of Stanhope, and Angela M. Lopez, 34 of Middlesex, broke into dozens of concession stands at pools and recreations centers overnight to take cash, food, drinks, stand appliances and tools, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced Tuesday. The two were arrested in Wayne and charged with 11 counts of burglary each, Musella said.  The largest theft during a break-in netted $700 in cash, the Morris County Sher…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine