A northern New Jersey man accused of killing his wife has pleaded not guilty to murder and weapons charges.
Eric Pleger entered his pleas Monday during a brief court appearance in Hackensack. He remains jailed on $2 million cash bail, an amount the judge said would not be changed.
The 45-year-old North Arlington man is charged in the death of his 47-year-old wife, Luisa. Her body was found Friday in the couple's apartment after police were asked to do a welfare check on her.
Prosecutors announced Monday that Luisa Pleger died from multiple blunt force trauma to the head. They say a blunt object used as a weapon during the killing was found in the apartment, but didn't disclose further comment.
The death was ruled a homicide. A motive for the slaying has not been disclosed.
The homicide, the first in the quiet New Jersey neighborhood in at least 24 years, stunned residents Friday.
"It's quiet, everybody is friendly with each other, all the neighbors know each other around here, so to hear about something like this, it's a real shock to all of us," said resident Robert Sclano.
