Prosecutors: Michael Manis, 71, killed his wife, staged a robbery in New Jersey to cover it up
HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, N.J. -- A 71-year-old man is accused of killing his wife and then faking a robbery to cover it up.
It happened in the Bergen County town of Hasbrouck Heights. The husband is now in police custody and facing a murder charge.
An unassuming home on Hamilton Avenue was allegedly the scene of the violent crime.
Police say Michael Manis called 911 on Saturday at around 5 p.m. to report that he had come home to find his wife dead in their home.
Neighbors said Manis talked to investigators later that evening. But according to the criminal complaint, Manis later admitted to suffocating his wife, Judith, with a pillow on Friday.
The complaint says Manis also staged a home invasion, ransacking the room to make it look like a robbery.
Manis is accused of hiding the victim's jewelry in a basement ceiling and dumping other valuables in a dumpster behind a 7-Eleven in Wood-Ridge, about a mile from the couple's home.
Neighbors said they still can't believe it.
"I was really surprised. I'm surprised anywhere. I mean evil is evil. You know, it's bad. So, it was unfortunate and sad," Tom Garvin said.
Manis was arrested on Sunday and charged with first-degree murder, second-degree desecrating human remains, hindering apprehension of oneself, and filing a false report to law enforcement.
On Monday, Hasbrouck Heights police were seen canvassing the neighborhood for any additional clues. The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office is also investigating.
One neighbor told CBS New York he already gave detectives the hard drive for his surveillance system.
Police have not released a motive for the alleged killing.
