TRENTON, NJ (TIP): A 32-year-old Indian American man, Melvin Thomas, has been arrested in connection with the death of his 61-year-old father, Manuel V. Thomas, in their Paramus, New Jersey home.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office has charged Melvin Thomas with first-degree murder, alongside several related offenses.
According to local news reports, Melvin Thomas, who is unemployed, was the one to call the police regarding the incident.
The Thomases are immigrants from the Indian state of Kerala. A social media handle used by Thomas stated that he was an alumnus of St. Stephen’s College Uzhavoor in the Kottayam district, in south-central Kerala.
The tragic incident unfolded on Friday, February 16, 2024, when the Paramus Police Department responded to a call about a potential homicide at 693 Bruce Drive. Upon arrival, officers discovered the lifeless body of Manuel V. Thomas in the basement of the residence. Manuel Thomas had sustained multiple stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Melvin Thomas was swiftly identified as a suspect and taken into custody by Paramus police officers. He is currently being held at Bergen County Jail awaiting his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.
Reports suggest that the homicide occurred on February 14, with Manuel’s body remaining undiscovered in the home for two days. Manuel, whose wife died in 2021, was reportedly an insurance professional.
Melvin Thomas has been charged with first-degree murder, desecration of human remains, hindering, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and possession of a weapon. He is being held at the Bergen County Jail pending a court appearance.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Unit, in conjunction with the Paramus Police Department, is actively investigating the case. Further details regarding the circumstances surrounding the homicide are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
Tag: TRENTON
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Indian American man arrested in connection with father’s murder in New Jersey
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Rimli Roy receives NJ State Council on the Arts Individual Artist Fellowship 2024 award
TRENTON, NJ (TIP): Surati Founder and Artistic Director Ms Rimli Roy receives the NJ State Council on the Arts 2024 Individual Artist Fellowship award. Ms Roy is a recipient in the Interdisciplinary category which uses two or more artistic forms from the categories listed for this award in alternate years. Ms Roy is also a past recipient of the Folk Arts Apprenticeship award from the NJSCA and the Sunshine Award in 2023.
The letter from the NJ State Council on the Arts says: “The New Jersey State Council on the Arts is pleased to share the exciting news that you are among 76 artists selected from 692 eligible applicants in six artistic disciplines to be awarded a 2024 Individual Artist Fellowship. Your work was reviewed by a panel of peers working in your field, and they evaluated it to be of very high artistic quality. A Fellowship in the amount of $21,750.00 will be awarded to you in recognition of the outstanding work you are doing and in the hope that it will enable you to further your artistic goals.”
About Rimli Roy
Rimli Roy is an artiste, dancer, choreographer, producer, director, actor, visionary and humanitarian from Kolkata, India who embarked on her artistic journey at the age of four, immersing herself first in classical Indian dance forms like Odissi, Bharatnatyam, Manipuri under renowned gurus of India, while also learning Western classical pianoforte under the tutelage of the Trinity College of Music, London as well as Indian Classical music (Hindustani vocals and harmonium). Her quest led her to explore beyond traditional practices. Significant milestones in her journey are the creation of productions like “Glimpses of India” and “Ramaavan – A Musical” that seamlessly blend genres from the East and the West. Ms. Roy’s artistry has graced iconic venues such as the United Nations, The Kennedy Center and The Library of Congress in D.C, The Lincoln Center in NYC, The Indian Consulate in NYC, Times Square NYC, and The Alaska Performing Arts Center. Beyond her performances, she nurtures budding dancers and collaborates with tri-state organizations to democratize the arts. Her ensemble beautifully reflects her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusivity.
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Indian student charged with family members’ triple murder
TRENTON, NJ (TIP): A 23-year-old Indian student has been arrested and charged for allegedly murdering his grandparents and uncle inside a New Jersey condominium, police and US media reports said.
Om Brahmbhatt is accused of shooting Dilipkumar Brahmbhatt, 72; Bindu Brahmbhatt, 72; and Yashkumar Brahmbhatt, 38, the South Plainfield Police Department and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement. Officers responded to the home on Coppola Drive off New Durham Road in South Plainfield around 9 am on Monday, November 27, after a neighbor reported hearing shots fired at the Traditions condo complex, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office said in a press release.
After arriving, officers found three people — two men and a woman — had suffered gunshot wounds.
Married couple Dilipkumar and Bindu Brahmbhatt were found shot to death in the second-floor apartment, police said. Their son, Yashkumar Brahmbhatt, was also found to have suffered multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital, where he died. A suspect was taken into custody for questioning at the scene and later charged. Om was charged with three counts of first-degree murder and second-degree weapon possession. Om, hailing from Gujarat, resided with the victims and was found at the residence when authorities arrived at the scene. Om had just moved to New Jersey within the past couple of months, sources said, and had been living at the condo, NBC New York reported.
He was taken to the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Centre pending a pre-trial detention hearing; it wasn’t immediately clear whether he had an attorney and a listed number for him couldn’t be found.
According to the complaint, the crime was committed with a handgun Om says he purchased online. Om had a seemingly calm demeanor during Tuesday’s court appearance. Police say he was the one who called 911 that morning and when asked about who did it, officials say Om stated, “It might be me”. It was not clear what led up to the shooting. A neighbor told NBC New York that it wasn’t the first time police had been called to the condo.
“I didn’t really know them, I just know one time the police were there for a domestic violence call,” said neighbor Jim Short, who lives upstairs from the unit where the three people were found dead. “Can happen anywhere but it is really creepy, it’s right downstairs.”
The Traditions apartment complex, home to many young families who emigrated from India, is equipped with dozens of security cameras that neighbors hoped could help police.
“There’s cameras all over and there are cameras coming in and out of the complex and every building has cameras outside and inside the breezeway. So hopefully that can help,” said another neighbor, Victor Orozco.
An investigation led by the South Plainfield Police Department is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to call town police or the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
An investigation by South Plainfield Detective Thomas Rutter and Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Javier Morillo determined that there was no threat to the public and this was not a random act of violence, according to the prosecutor’s office.
(Source: PTI)