homicide

Teen Daughter, Companion Charged in NJ Woman's Death After Body Found in Creek

The woman's 14-year-old daughter and her 19-year-old companion have been charged in the woman's alleged murder, according to officials

NBC Universal, Inc.

What to Know

  • A 51-year-old woman was stabbed to death at her New Jersey home before being dumped in a park creek, officials said
  • The woman's 14-year-old daughter and her 19-year-old companion Nicolas Coirazza have been charged in the woman's death; Coirazza faces a slew of charges, including murder
  • Investigators said the victim has been identified as Divna Rosasco

A New Jersey woman's body was found dumped and weighted down in the water at a county park after she was stabbed to death at her home, prosecutors said — and the woman's 14-year-old daughter and her 19-year-old companion have been charged in the alleged murder and attempt to cover it up.

The body of 51-year-old woman Divna Rosasco was found around 2 a.m. at Overpeck County Park shortly after deputies checking the park found her SUV with one of the license plates looking like someone had tried to remove it. K-9 units found the body wrapped in plastic and weighted down with cinder blocks near the edge of the water at the boat basin, officials said.

Before her body was dumped at the creek, prosecutors and investigators said Rosasco was killed at her home on Florence Avenue in Cresskill, where investigators searched on Monday. Prosecutors believe she was stabbed while 19-year-old Nicolas Coirazza was visiting the home, and then he enlisted the 14-year-old daughter's help to dispose the body. It wasn't immediately clear when she may have died.

A short time after Rosasco's body was discovered, Coirazza and the teen girl were found at a nearby hotel parking lot, waiting for an Uber. Coirazza was charged with murder, while the victim's teen daughter was charged with juvenile offenses including disturbing human remains, evidence tampering and hindering apprehension.

Prosecutors have not determined a motive for the killing, or how Coirazza knew the family.

Neighbors of the woman said this sort of crime is unheard of in their peaceful suburb.

"It's scary because it doesn't happen in this town. Its' a quiet town," Maria Santos said, adding that the Rosasco family "kept to themselves."

Copyright NBC New York
Contact Us