Armanious family murders remain unsolved, 'There are no suspects at the present time'

Armanious family murders remain unsolved Ricardo Kaulessar Reporter staff writer

MOURNING IN THE AFTERNOON - Relatives of the murdered Armanious family remember them at a vigil on Saturday afternoon. Last week, when Hudson County Prosecutor Edward J. DeFazio was asked about the status of the investigation into the Armanious family murders, he gave the same answer that he has given to all inquiries since the discovery of the murders on Jan. 14: "There are no suspects at the present time."

The Armanious family - Hossam Armanious, 47, his wife Amal Garas, 37, and the couple's two daughters, Sylvia, 15, and Monica, 8 - were found by the Jersey City Police Department in their Oakland Avenue home early in the morning in separate rooms, bound and gagged with their throats punctured. According to police, the family had apparently been dead for two days before they were discovered.

Since then, local and federal authorities working together on the case have had few very leads. DeFazio still holds strong to the idea that robbery was a motive for the killings. The Armaniouses were found with no money on them.

DeFazio also said that he has ruled out the theory that the murders were because Hossam Armanious' religious-based postings on an Internet chat site angered Muslims visiting the site. The Armanious family were Coptic Christians who emigrated from Egypt in 1997.

But that has not stopped rampant speculation that Muslim extremists were behind the murders, which has resulted in tensions between Muslims and Coptic Christians, and numerous writings on the Internet criticizing authorities and the media for avoiding the possibility of religious motives behind the murders.

Tuesday, relatives of Amal Garas took part in a press conference organized by the U.S. Copts Association and held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. They spoke out about the murders.

Also, a vigil took place on Saturday at the St. George and St. Shenouda Church Community Center in Journal Square to remember the family.

At the press conference, the family thanked authorities for their work in the investigations and warned against the rumors that have infiltrated the public regarding the murders.

"In the midst of the heartbreak and chaos, we feel it is imperative that speculation and rumor not compromise the integrity of the investigation nor our community's unique position in this country," a relative read from a prepared statement. "We are determined to obtain a just and speedy resolution to this gruesome matter that has caused our family and friends so much grief."

Family members also clarified misstatements of fact that have been reported in the media.

Accordint to the statement, "Various theories have circulated regarding the possible motivations for the killings. One such theory regarding an 'old country vendetta' has emerged, attempting to link an old Egyptian practice with the killings of the Armanious family. Such a theory, in our opinion, lacks credibility. Such vendettas, while common practice decades ago in Egypt, are no longer tolerated or practiced in modern society."

The family also dismissed the motive of robbery, as they noted that $3,500 in jewelry remained in the house and the family was not known for keeping large amounts of money in their home.

"If the primary motive was robbery, why would they have killed each person in such cruel and vindictive manner?" they asked. "Robbery is certainly not a motive in this case."

A vigil was planned for Saturday (Feb. 19) at the St. George and St. Shenouda Church and its Community Center. The vigil was attended by over a thousand mourners who packed the church on Bergen Avenue and the center on Vroom Avenue.

Relatives, friends and acquaintances came to pay their respects to their departed loved ones 40 days after their passing in accordance with Christian tradition. Many wore buttons with a picture of the family and a quote from the Bible - "DO NOT BE AFRAID FROM THOSE WHO KILL THE BODY".

Speakers urged authorities to find the killers as soon as possible while urging Copts and others to let the authorities do their job.

During the vigil, people manned tables in the community center where they encouraged attendees to sign petition letters that would be sent to U.S. Senators Jon Corzine and Frank Lautenberg and Congressman Robert Menendez encouraging them to ensure that all resources are utilized to solve the case.

Also, in a bit of timely programming, the TV show America's Most Wanted on Saturday evening showed a segment on the Armanious family murders.

Not to worry, Im sure if muslims did this the muslim community will turn them in.....why the muslim community would never protect and hide the perpetrators.....because islam means peace.

Does anyone know anything about Hudson County Prosecutor Edward J. DeFazio? He sounds like a loser, but it would be good to get more information. According to what I can find in a brief search, he is a former judge who was appointed to his present office by none other than Jim McGreevey in 2002. He is said to have had 20 years experience in the Hudson Country Prosecutor's Office.

That may mean that he is an experienced prosecutor, or it may mean that he is a corrupt political hack. Any ideas?

Tell me this is a joke. If the Armanious family had been running an aboriton clinic, law enforcement and the media would have been all over this case, beating the bushes for a suspect, breaking into people's houses, running stories night after night. It's underwhelming reactions to hideous crimes like this that cause the public to take justice into their own hands--never a good outcome.

If the Armanious family had been running an aboriton clinic, law enforcement and the media would have been all over this case, beating the bushes for a suspect, breaking into people's houses, running stories night after night.

Also if they had been Muslims or gay.

http://www.egyptmypeople.org/articels/copts.cfm

The Coptic church has a rich past that flourished by the faith and the blood of its martyrs. The same church continues to serve the Word of God.

Genesis 9:6
Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

Much to my chagrin this is going to quietly go away. I've yet to see ONE serious statment from any authority in Jersey concerning the apprehension of the killers. More Coptics will probably pay with their blood for this cover up. Then, after a few more killings on US soil, the Great Purge will begin. The innocent children of "moderate" Muslim parents will suffer most. What a shame when all they had to do was speak up.

Also if they had been Muslims or gay.

When are Conservatives going to get it through their heads the authorities don't protect these groups because they like them; they protect these groups because they cause the authorities MORE GRIEF than we do!

You may catch more flys with honey, but to move a mule you need a WHIP!

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