Stabbing Victim Had Restraining Order Against Suspect: Police

COLLINGSWOOD, NJ — One of two sisters killed by a Burlington County man in her Collingswood home had filed a restraining order against him in an attempt to escape an abusive relationship. Colleen Brownell had filed a restraining order against her former boyfriend, 44-year-old Mark Lyczak of Medford, on July 24, 2017, according to a probable cause statement provided by the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office.

Just over five months later, on Saturday evening, Dec. 30, the 48-year-old Brownell and her 41-year-old sister, Alysia McCloskey, were found fatally stabbed in the home they had been sharing. Lyczak was also found in the home, sitting on top of a third woman apparently stabbing her. He was subsequently arrested, she was hospitalized in critical condition.

A pretrial detention hearing for Lyczak is scheduled for Thursday afternoon, 1:30 p.m. in Camden Superior Court, according to a spokesperson for the Camden County Prosecutor's Office. At that time, Judge Edward J. McBride will either set bail for Lyczak, or decide if Lyczak will be held until trial.

Lyczak, who police said they recognized at the scene from a previous domestic violence arrest, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree attempted murder.

Brownell and Lyczak were dating, but Brownell left him when he became overbearing and she became scared. Brownell then moved in with McCloskey, and friends described the two sisters as "super-close," according to nj.com. Brownell intended to move to Florida, to be closer to her son, who she had given up for adoption nearly 30 years ago. They reconnected last year.

Brownell's friends didn't know McCloskey very well, but they told the website she was devoted to her children and supportive of her sister. Friends have set up a GoFundMe account to help support McCloskey's two sons, Zack and Riley McCloskey. As of Wednesday, The Alysia McCloskey Family Fund GoFundMe page had raised over $10,000.

Friends said Brownell enjoyed going to the beach, and she was preparing to move on with the next step of her life when tragedy struck.

Neighbors heard screaming from a home on the 100 block of East Narberth Terrace just after 5 p.m. on Dec. 30, and called 911. Collingswood Police arrived to find the two sisters had been fatally stabbed, but were in time to save the third woman. The third woman has not been identified, but friends told NJ Pen she was Lyczak’s new girlfriend and had accompanied him to the house that day.

McCloskey was pronounced deceased on the scene after police found her body on the front porch. Brownell was also pronounced deceased after police found her body on the floor in the living room.

A neighbor told detectives he and several other neighbors had heard a commotion and had approached the house. A man he identified as Lyczak came out of the home holding a knife, according to the probable cause statement. No reason has been given as to a motive for the stabbings.

After he was arrested, Lyczak was taken to the Collingswood Police Department, where he was charged, according to the prosecutor's office. He was remanded to the Camden County Correctional Facility pending Thursday's hearing.

The attached image was posted on The Alysia McCloskey Family Fund GoFundMe page.