Tragic Double Fatal House Fire In NJ Was A Homicide: Officials

JAMESBURG – A suspect was arrested and charged with killing two people who were found dead in a New Jersey house fire this week, prosecutors aid.

Jaree D. Kitchen, 21, of Jamesburg was arrested this week and charged with murder and aggravated arson in the fire he caused at his father’s home on Sheridan Street, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office

The two deceased victims were located at 3:45 a.m. during the Wednesday fire, the MCPO said. Clifford Kitchen, 53, of Jamesburg, was identified as one of the deceased. The other deceased victim’s identity is pending positive identification.

The Middlesex County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office performed the autopsies and found that both victims sustained stab wounds. The manner of death for both victims was ruled as homicide, the MCPO said.

Jaree Kitchen was taken into custody on Wednesday and is now charged with two counts of first-degree murder, aggravated arson in the second degree, hindering his own prosecution in the third degree, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in the third degree and destroying physical evidence in the fourth degree, the MCPO said.

Jaree Kitchen is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center pending a detention hearing scheduled for Nov. 13.

Early Wednesday, firefighters were dispatched to the single-family home to battle the blaze that caused extensive damage. No firefighters or police officers were injured, the MCPO said.

Among those called to the scene were the Jamesburg Fire Department, the Jamesburg Police Department, the Middlesex County Office of the Fire Marshal, and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

The investigation is active and is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Sergeant Jason Muller of the Jamesburg Police Department at (732) 521-0011, or Detective Deon McCall of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-3848.

This is a developing story. Patch will have more information as it comes in.