The arrest of Eastman Parkway resident Yolanda Nichols for murder last week marks the fourth killing in Jersey City this year, according to Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio.
“There have been four murders so far,” DeFazio said last Wednesday. “The most recent was with the case Nichols case on Jan. 11.”
Police arrested Nichols, 31, in connection with the death of James Earl Gillison, a homeless man who was found by his relatives with a bleeding wound to the wrist early on Jan. 11.
“He was brought to Greenville Hospital for treatment,” said DeFazio. “Upon seeing Gillison, hospital personnel said that he had been at the hospital a short time earlier.”
According to DeFazio, Gillison had come in earlier claiming to have been stabbed and to have also shot and killed his assailant.
“At the time of his first visit to the hospital, Gillison appeared drunk,” DeFazio said. “Before the staff could treat him, Gillison ran from the premises.”
A little more than an hour after his second arrival at the Greenville Hospital, Gillison died of exsanguination, or loss of blood, according to DeFazio.
After an investigation, police discovered that Gillison had in fact not shot anyone and that Gillison was known to cut himself when he was intoxicated. “The New Jersey State Regional Medical Examiner’s Office initially determined the wound to Gillison’s wrist to have been self-inflicted,” DeFazio said.
But further investigation by law enforcement officers revealed that before going to the Greenville Hospital, Gillison had been at a basement apartment located at 557 Garfield Ave., where he met Nichols.
“There was an argument between Gillison and Nichols that developed into an altercation,” claimed DeFazio. “It was during that altercation that Gillison [allegedly] was cut with a knife by Nichols.”
From there, Gillison fled to the hospital, DeFazio said.
First crime of the year
The first alleged murder of the year occurred on New Year’s Day.
At 12 Cambridge Ave., DeFazio said, Angel Santos allegedly shot Euclides Acosta, 29.
“Santos claimed that Acosta had inappropriately touched Santos’ 7-year-old daughter,” DeFazio said.
According to police reports, Santos and Acosta were next door neighbors. Acosta lived at 10 Cambridge Ave. and was attending a party at Santos’ home.
During the argument that ensued, Acosta was shot, DeFazio added.
“Santos is charged with one count of murder,” DeFazio added. “Bail for Santos was set at $250,000.”
The next killing occurred Jan. 3.
Authorities arrested Stanislaw Smolinski, of 235 Beacon St., on Wednesday, Jan. 8 for allegedly murdering Heights resident Grazayna Ziaja, according to DeFazio.
“Ziaja, aged 50, was found by her daughter on a sofa bed in her apartment located at 3388 Kennedy Blvd. in the late afternoon on Jan. 3,” DeFazio said. “Mr. Smolinski was brought in on a charge of contempt of a restraining order.”
DeFazio said that Ziaja and Smolinski were reported to have had a violent argument on New Year’s Day, which was allegedly in breach of the restraining order.
“Upon further investigation by the County’s Homicide Squad, Mr. Smolinski was charged with the murder of Ziaja,” said DeFazio.
Bail for Smolinski is $500,000 and he is currently being held in the Hudson County Jail, DeFazio said.
Smolinski had had a restraining order lodged against him by the victim. DeFazio said that a domestic violence victim can apply for a Temporary Restraining Order (T.R.O.) from the county at 595 Newark Ave., Jersey City, Room 220, weekdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The victim will be assisted by an intake worker of the Family Part in filing a civil complaint against the abuser, added DeFazio. A judge or hearing officer will then question the applicant on the record and decide whether or not a T.R.O. is justified. There will be a hearing date set for later for a Final Restraining Order.
The third incident of the year took place on Jan. 5, when Dion Miller, 33, was arrested for the murder of Romeo Causro, 75, of 259 Van Norstand Ave., DeFazio stated.
According to police reports, Miller is alleged to have beaten Causro about the head with Causro’s cane during an argument.
“Causro was brought to Jersey City Medical Center for treatment,” said DeFazio. “His condition took a turn for the worse the next day when he fell into a coma.”
According to DeFazio, Causro died on Jan. 9. Miller was charged with murder, and bail was posted at $500,000. Miller is currently being held at the Hudson County Jail.
None of them random
While four alleged murders in 11 days doesn’t make a city look good, it should be pointed out that authorities have not judged any of these to be robberies or random shootings on the street.
“Obviously these are horrific acts that show people at their worst,” said Stan Eason, director of communications for the office of Mayor Glenn Cunningham. “Law enforcement can stop certain crimes, but not all.”
Eason added, “The Jersey City Police Department is very diligent about reporting domestic crime to the county. We hope with tougher domestic violence laws now on the books, incidents of domestic strife to not graduate to something higher.”