NJ Man On ‘10 Most Wanted’ List, Murdered Woman, Dog: FBI

NEWARK, NJ — A man wanted for allegedly murdering a woman and her dog in Essex County is the newest addition to the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list, authorities reported Thursday.

According to the FBI’s Newark office, Lamont Stephenson, 43, is being sought for his alleged involvement in the murder of a woman and her dog in Newark on Oct. 17, 2014. He should be considered armed and dangerous, authorities said.

According to the FBI:

“On October 17, 2014, at approximately 5:37 p.m., officers from the Newark Police Department were dispatched to 65 North Hawthorne Lane after family members found the victim, Olga DeJesus, unresponsive in the bed and the victim’s dog unresponsive in the residence as well. Officers arrived at the location and did not see any signs of forced entry into the apartment. EMS units arrived at the scene where the victim was pronounced dead and she was transported to University Hospital. The cause of death for Olga DeJesus as well as the dog was found to be asphyxiation by the alleged suspect, Lamont Stephenson.”

On November 3, 2014, Lamont Stephenson was charged with homicide by the state of New Jersey in Essex County.

On September 8, 2017, a federal arrest warrant was issued by the United States District Court of New Jersey charging Stephenson with homicide. He is believed to have fled the jurisdiction to avoid prosecution, authorities said.

Stephenson has not been seen in New Jersey since around the time of the murder. He has ties in North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina, authorities stated.

Stephenson is a United States citizen and has no overseas connection, the FBI stated.

Authorities said described Stephenson as a black male, 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 7 inches and 220 pounds (see above photo).

“Over the past four years our office has worked tirelessly to find and apprehend Lamont Stephenson, following numerous leads both in New Jersey and beyond,” Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens said. “Sadly, those efforts have not resulted in an arrest. Placing this defendant on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list, we believe, will significantly increase the likelihood of finding him.”

Stephenson marks the 521st addition to the 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list, which began in March of 1950. Since then, 486 fugitives have been apprehended or located; 162 of them as a result of “citizen cooperation,” the FBI stated.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading directly to Stephenson’s arrest, authorities said. Anyone with information concerning Lamont Stephenson should take no action themselves, but should immediately contact the nearest FBI office or local law enforcement agency. Tips can be sent to 1-800-225-5324, or submitted online here.

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Photo: FBI