North Jersey Woman Found Dead At Jersey City Motel

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — A Jersey City official confirmed Monday that a woman was found dead on Friday at a Jersey City motel, but released few details. Hoboken residents have been posting social media tributes saying the woman lived in the Hoboken Housing Authority neighborhood and was an advocate for residents there.

[UPDATE: Police said the victim had been dead approximately 6-12 hours before she was found. Read an update on Hoboken Patch here.]

Jersey City spokesperson Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said Monday that at 12:04 p.m. on Friday, police were called to 380 Tonnelle Ave., which is the address of the Skyway Motel in Jersey City.

A woman there was found "unresponsive" and pronounced dead at the scene, Wallace-Scalcione said.

She did not release any more information.

A spokesperson for the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office referred questions to the Jersey City police, saying they're the lead agency for the case.

"I'm so angry why would someone hurt such a beautiful soul," wrote a woman on Facebook on Saturday. "I got woken to a message of her missing from Wednesday to a few hrs later I get the message the body found has been identified by family."

Barbara Reyes, who has served on the Hoboken Housing Authority Board, wrote Monday, "I never thought I would be writing this about Kyeila. I must say this one is a hard one to swallow. I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Colon while advocating together for the HHA years ago. She was a true advocate for the HHA community, while being a devoted mother to her children and devoted daughter to her mother.

"I ask please pray for her family and our community," she added. "Her family lost a daughter, sister, mother and our community lost an advocate. I pray justice is served for Kyeila."

A relative wrote on Kyelia Colon's Facebook wall, "I can’t stop crying I can’t believe this I just cant believe it."

Omar Dyer wrote, "Kyelia was our advocate for social justice; she was that person you would call if you wanted to protest against violence. As a community we should honor her legacy by living the imprint she left behind. And fight for the cause she stood up for. I will always be grateful for protecting me from bullying when I was a child."

Over the weekend, social media users posted photos of a man they said may have had something to do with Colon's death.

In an article Monday, Hudson County View identified the woman found at the motel as Colon, but did not have any further details, as they were not being released as of late Monday.

Colon ran for school board back in 2010, according to a story in Patch.

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