Alleged murderer of WNY man urged to turn himself in
Investigators are continuing a nationwide search to track down a fugitive they allege is the man who killed 23-year-old Spencer Hernandez of West New York a few weeks ago.
According to Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio, investigators acted upon information they received regarding the whereabouts of the man implicated in the murder, Arthur Silva, 20, of Cliffside Park, but by the time they reached his hotel room in Miami Beach, Fla., Silva was gone.
DeFazio said detectives from the Hudson County Prosecutors Office, the police department in Miami, and U.S. Marshals took part in the raid on the Florida hotel room last week.
Silva is also charged with attempting to murder two other people who were with Hernandez when he was murdered, but investigators have not released those names.
“He is considered dangerous,” said DeFazio. “We consider him to be a fugitive.”
Hernandez was killed by a single shot in the back on Oct. 7 after he was lured outside of his home by a phone call in the early hours of the morning.
According to DeFazio, Silva and Hernandez, who was reportedly arrested and pled guilty to drug charges earlier this year, were acquaintances prior to the murder.
Investigators have said that an incident that occurred earlier in the evening involving Hernandez’s younger brother breaking into a car and robbing a purse may be related to the murder.
Investigators have also been speaking with two unnamed women connected with the case, but they have not been charged.
In response to questions about rumors that had been circulating on social networking sites for weeks regarding Silva’s whereabouts, DeFazio said that it is more helpful for people to call the authorities directly with any information instead of getting involved with those sites.
“Sometimes people do have information before we do [and] we would appreciate their help,” said DeFazio.
Investigators believe that people who are close to Silva may have gotten word about where he is and they urge those people to come forward.
Silva’s last known address is on Palisades Avenue in Cliffside Park, but prior to that he was a Hudson County resident.
DeFazio added that investigators are encouraging Silva to come forward on his own and surrender, which DeFazio said could help avoid a potentially dangerous situation.
According to DeFazio, Silva would be able to turn himself in at any law enforcement agency in the country.
Anyone with information on the murder or the whereabouts of Arthur Silva should call the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Squad at (201) 915-1345.
The 30th Annual Artists Studio Tour on Nov. 6 and 7
On Saturday, Nov. 6 and Sunday, Nov. 7, from noon until 6 p.m., Mayor Dawn Zimmer, The City of Hoboken, The Hudson Reporter, and the Hudson County Division of Cultural & Heritage Affairs will present The Hoboken 30th Annual Artists Studio Tour, a free self-guided walking tour of artists’ studios, galleries, and community exhibition spaces. Over 150 artists’ works will be showcased in 41 venues. The tour takes place all throughout Hoboken, at spots that include The Monroe Center, the Friary, 619 Jefferson St., and the Neumann Leather building at 300 Observer Hwy. For directions or further information, visit the city website at www.hobokennj.org, or call (201) 420-2207.
UC and WNY families honored for ties to history
One of the highlights of the Hudson County History Fair held earlier this month was to honor the oldest families living in Hudson County. In Union City, that honor went to Kathie Pontus based on her family tree that extends back to her great-great grandmother, Catherine Lee, who arrived in 1852. In West New York, the honor was bestowed upon Thomas Berry whose great-great grandfather, Marco Barichevich, arrived in 1879. This year marks Hudson County’s 350th birthday. The event, over a year in the making, was organized by the Hudson County Genealogical Society, the Historic Jersey City & Harsimus Cemetery, the Jersey City Free Public Library, the New Jersey City University, the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy, and the Embankment Preservation Coalition.
Fund-raising banquet to be held for children’s event
The National Association of Cuban-American Women will be holding a dinner and dance banquet on Nov. 7 at Mediterranean Manor Restaurant, 255-260 Jefferson St. in Newark. As in previous years, the event is being held for the purpose of raising funds for the “Toys Giving Program,” which will help distribute toys to children on Jan. 8 at Park Theatre in Union City in celebration of Three Kings Day. For more information, call (201) 864-4879 or (201) 348-4724.
PMC community health screenings announced for November
Palisades Medical Center, in partnership with North Hudson Community Action Corporation, Christ Hospital School of Nursing, and Hudson Perinatal Consortium, will be providing free health screenings and education programs throughout the month of November.
Free health screenings (including blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, heart rate, body mass index/BMI, peak flow and pulse oximetery) will be held on Oct. 31 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at St. Anthony Church, 615 8th St. in Union City and on Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at St. Joseph of the Palisades Roman Catholic Church, 6401 Palisades Ave. in West New York.
For more information, call Joanne Riggs at (201) 854-5793.