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Prosecutor: Ex-Boyfriend Of Missing South Jersey Woman Stephanie Parze Dead By Suicide Prosecutor: Ex-Boyfriend Of Missing South Jersey Woman Stephanie Parze Dead By Suicide
Prosecutor: Ex-Boyfriend Of Missing South Jersey Woman Stephanie Parze Dead By Suicide The ex-boyfriend recently named a person of interest in the disappearance of Freehold's Stephanie Parze was found dead by apparent suicide Friday morning in his home, authorities said. John D. Ozbilgen was released from jail after being charged with possession of child pornography, which turned up when police searched his house in connection with 25-year-old Parze's Oct. 30 disappearance, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said. Ozbilgen sent threatening and profanity-laced messages to Parze the day before she went missing, Monmouth County prosecutors said during the hearing. Parze f…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Disgraced Bergen Developer Spared Federal Prison In $4 Million Loan Scheme Disgraced Bergen Developer Spared Federal Prison In $4 Million Loan Scheme
Disgraced Bergen Developer Spared Federal Prison In $4 Million Loan Scheme Bergen County developer James Demetrakis was sentenced Wednesday to two years probation and ordered to pay a $75,000 fine by a federal judge for helping longtime associate Fred Dabies illegally obtain millions of dollars in bank loans. Demetrakis, 79, admitted in U.S. District Court earlier this year that he and Dabies, his former business partner, conspired to skirt limits on how much in loans any individual can receive. His April guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to make false entries to deceive a financial institution appeared to bolster the government’s case against Dabies, who was…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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 …

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Newark Man Found Guilty In Love-Triangle Shooting That Left Friend Paralyzed Newark Man Found Guilty In Love-Triangle Shooting That Left Friend Paralyzed
Newark Man Found Guilty In Love-Triangle Shooting That Left Friend Paralyzed A Newark man was convicted of aggravated assault and weapons offenses for shooting his childhood friend after catching him in bed with his girlfriend, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said Thursday.  Jurors declined to convict Rahiym Washington, 31, of attempted murder and of charges involving his girlfriend, but prosecutors say he is still likely to get a lengthy term when he's sentenced next month. Prosecutors will ask for 20 years, citing Washington's criminal history.  On April 5, 2018, Washington entered the woman's home and saw his childhood friend with her. Washington s…

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by Paul Milo
News
Report: Pickup Driver In Crash That Killed 5 Teaneck Family Members Gets 1 Year Probation Report: Pickup Driver In Crash That Killed 5 Teaneck Family Members Gets 1 Year Probation
Report: Pickup Driver In Crash That Killed 5 Teaneck Family Members Gets 1 Year Probation A man who killed a Teaneck father and his four daughters when his pickup truck veered across a Delaware highway into the path of their minivan was sentenced to a year's probation on Friday, according to a published report. Alvin Hubbard III, of Maryland, could be sentenced to 14 years in prison if he doesn't meet the requirements of his probation. Hubbard pleaded guilty in June to five counts of death by auto and two of vehicular assault in connection with the July 2018 crash, which occurred as the Trinidad family was returning from a trip to Ocean City, MD.  Killed were Audi Marquez …

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Beaten Infant Twin Dies At Hackensack UMC, Charges Against Dad Upped To Aggravated Manslaughter Beaten Infant Twin Dies At Hackensack UMC, Charges Against Dad Upped To Aggravated Manslaughter
Beaten Infant Twin Dies At Hackensack UMC, Charges Against Dad Upped To Aggravated Manslaughter YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office upgraded charges early Friday against the father of beaten 7-week-old twins after one of them died at Hackensack University Medical Center. Aggravated manslaughter charges were filed against Jonathan Melendez, 27, who was already being held in the Bergen County Jail on aggravated assault and endangerment charges following his arrest last week. Investigators seized him after the infants' mother brought them to HUMC on Oct. 23, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. The twins, who'd been in the father's custody in Teanec…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Elizabeth Man Admits Strangling Woman To Death, Trying To Kill Another Elizabeth Man Admits Strangling Woman To Death, Trying To Kill Another
Elizabeth Man Admits Strangling Woman To Death, Trying To Kill Another An Elizabeth man has pleaded guilty to killing one woman by strangling her and attempting to kill another at a city apartment six years ago, the Union County Prosecutor's Office said.  Police responding to a report of an assault in the 100 block of Madison Avenue on May 8, 2013, found the body of Patricia Parnham-Hayward, 48. A garment was wrapped around her neck.  A second woman, 59, was also at the scene, had been seriously injured.  Investigators determined that Arlie Rodriguez, now 47, spoke to Parham-Hayward on the phone minutes, then entered a room at the apartment wit…

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by Paul Milo
Police & Fire
Bergen Correction Officer Busted Bergen Correction Officer Busted
Bergen Correction Officer Busted A Bergen County correction officer is accused of giving contraband to a county jail inmate. Authorities were purposefully vague about what they contend Jessica Stec, 28, of Elmwood Park, gave to the inmate while an investigation continues. However, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella noted that charges of obstructing a governmental function and providing contraband both are disorderly person offenses. Depending on the offense, a convicted defendant technically could be sentenced to up to six months of jail (not prison) time. However, penalties for disorderly per…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Mother Of Two Toddlers Found Dead Arrested In Bloomfield: Report Mother Of Two Toddlers Found Dead Arrested In Bloomfield: Report
Mother Of Two Toddlers Found Dead Arrested In Bloomfield: Report A  woman whose toddlers died from injuries sustained in the Bronx two years ago was arrested in Bloomfield, News 4 New York reported.  On July 9, 2017, Jade Spencer, now 33, and her boyfriend put the children to bed at the Bronx home, according to police. She checked on them a few hours later and called 911 when she noticed they had lost consciousness.  Olivia Gee, 2, and her three-year-old brother Micha were later pronounced dead. An autopsy revealed the toddlers suffered organ failure and internal bleeding from blunt-force trauma injuries.  Spencer, who now lives…

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by Paul Milo
Police & Fire
Union Man Ran Unlicensed, $400M Check-Cashing Business: Feds Union Man Ran Unlicensed, $400M Check-Cashing Business: Feds
Union Man Ran Unlicensed, $400M Check-Cashing Business: Feds A 40-year-old Union resident was scheduled to appear in federal court Monday on charges he oversees a massive, illicit check-chasing empire, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.  Fernando Q. Martins, who owns a number of businesses in Newark, was arrested on Friday in connection with the $400 million check-cashing operation.  Martins allegedly cashed checks mostly from construction workers and others in the building trades since at least 2015. Martins also allowed customers to write checks to businesses he operated as part of the scheme, federal authorities said.  The scheme all…

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by Paul Milo
Police & Fire
Teacher At Millburn High Tried To Seduce Student, Authorities Say Teacher At Millburn High Tried To Seduce Student, Authorities Say
Teacher At Millburn High Tried To Seduce Student, Authorities Say An English teacher at Millburn High School has been charged with endangering the welfare of one of his students after he repeatedly made sexually suggestive comments to her during the past school year, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said Friday.  Joseph Pedulla, 57, of Monroe, appeared in court for the first time Friday.  According to authorities, Pedulla began directing "inappropriate communications" towards the female student, including sexual "overtures." The girl reported the alleged conduct to Millburn police, the prosecutor's office said.  Pedulla earned more tha…

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by Paul Milo
Police & Fire
Man Accused Of Bringing Gun To Westfield School Meant No Harm: Brother Man Accused Of Bringing Gun To Westfield School Meant No Harm: Brother
Man Accused Of Bringing Gun To Westfield School Meant No Harm: Brother The Delaware man who police said was armed with a loaded gun and who had several more rounds of ammo in the trunk of his vehicle when he was arrested at a grade school in Westfield last week made his first court appearance Thursday. Thomas Wilkie, 46, was arrested after police in Westfield received a call from law enforcement in New Castle, Del., notifying them that Wilkie was armed and headed to Tamaques Elementary, police said.  School was out of session but a number of students were in the building for an after-school program when Wilkie was taken into custody without incident aroun…

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by Paul Milo