Essex County Sheriff's Office Offers Reward in Maplewood Attack

The Essex County Sheriff's Office issued a statement to news media yesterday announcing a cash reward of $5,000 for information in the : 

"Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that the Crimestoppers program would pay up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest in the brutal attack on a female secretary in the St. Joseph Church rectory, located at 256 Franklin Avenue, on the morning of March 4, 2012. (Editors note: the Sheriff's office later issued a correction of the crime date to March 14.)

According to Maplewood Police Chief Robert Cimino, a male suspect apparently entered a basement level office looking for food.  A church secretary offered to help the suspect by leading him to the second floor to speak to a priest. 

As the secretary exited the office, she was grabbed from behind, thrown facedown to the floor and repeatedly and viciously stomped.  The victim suffered multiple face fractures and contusions.  She was also left with vision and brain disabilities.

The suspect then re-entered the office and stole cash and credit cards from the victim’s purse.

The suspect, described as a medium-build black male, approximately 5’ 8” in height with close cropped hair, a thin mustache and protruding teeth, was wearing a dark-colored zip-up, hooded sweatshirt, dark pants and tan hiking boots.

Persons with information about the crime are asked to contact the Maplewood Police Department at 973-762-2333 or the Essex County Sheriff’s Crimestoppers hotline at 973-877-TIPS (8477). 

All calls to law enforcement will be kept confidential."