A well-known and well-liked long-time Weehawken resident was found dead in his Highwood Terrace apartment Sunday, raising wide speculation as to what caused the death of a 91-year-old staple of the community.
Dick Bonomo, a former exalted ruler of the Weehawken Elks and a long-time member of the Weehawken Rent Control Board, was found dead, fully clothed, in the bathroom of his apartment last Sunday.
According to Hudson County First Assistant Prosecutor Terrence Hull, the cause of Bonomo’s death has not been officially determined, although it seems to be unsuspicious, he said.
When Bonomo was found, he had facial lacerations. According to Hull, the cuts had nothing to do with the cause of death. "The big issue were the facial injuries, but after receiving the report from the [state] medical examiner [in Newark], none of the trauma found induced death," Hull said. "Detectives saw the trauma to the face and quickly noted that it could be suspicious, but at this point, it appears to be natural causes. We’re still awaiting a toxicology report before we make a final determination. The investigation is still ongoing."
According to Weehawken Public Safety Director Jeff Welz, detectives are still working with the Prosecutor’s Office on the investigation. "The conditions at the apartment warranted an investigation and the Prosecutor’s Office was quickly brought in," he said. It has been treated as a potential crime scene, but it has not been ruled a homicide, said Welz.
There has been speculation that Bonomo had might have had words and a possible altercation with some contractors doing work to his home. Also, the back screen door was found to have damage.
Rampant rumors have spread through the township and to local media outlets about the death. Some said that Bonomo was bludgeoned with a hammer. Others claimed that Bonomo’s home was ransacked.
"There’s nothing at all that could substantiate those claims," Hull said. "It’s simply not true."
Others claimed that township officials were trying to cover up the fact that Bonomo was indeed murdered, saying that a police report showed that he was murdered, but it was not released. The actual police reports show no indication that Bonomo was violently murdered.
"I think some people saw a lot of police activity at the house and then random thoughts started," Welz said. "Dick Bonomo was well-known and an active member of the community. Word travels fast in a small town, but residents should be rest assured that the Police Department is doing their job and that they should allow us to do our job. No one should speculate until it is proven what actually happened."
Welz added, "And there has absolutely been no cover-up. I think it was an attempt to spread some unwarranted fear. At least we know it’s definitely not a random act, which is what causes the most worry."
The idea of any wrongdoing angered Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner. "What these anonymous calls are really doing is degrading the integrity of the Police Department and the Prosecutor’s Office," Turner said. "I knew Dick well. He was a friend and a brother Elk. He served his community well for many years. No one wants to find out the reason for his passing more than I do. With sympathy and regrets to Dick’s family, we should all let the appropriate authorities deal with the details and wait for the final result."
Turner said that he personally went to speak with Bonomo’s neighbors to try to relieve their fears about the incident. "After talking to the neighbors, I don’t think the calls came from the neighbors," Turner said. "Of course, they’re concerned, but I’m convinced they’re not the ones making the allegations. It’s not coming from his neighborhood. It’s a shame that some individuals would stoop so low than to make anonymous calls and cause fear.”
Turner added, "The residents of Weehawken have nothing to be worried about. We still have the lowest crime rate in Hudson County, so when something like this happens, everyone wants to know the facts. Believe me, that work is being done."
Weehawken has had two homicides since 1994.