2 Charged In Connection With Missing Bergen Man's Murder: Prosecutor

Two people were arrested in connection with the death of murder victim Randolph Smith, 44, who went missing on Christmas Day last year.

Smith was reported missing by his wife, Adrienne Smith, 43, Jan. 2. He was last seen at his home by his wife Christmas night at 8:30 p.m. when he left the residence "with an unknown person," Bergenfield Police Capt. Mustafa Rabboh previously said.

The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and the Bergenfield Police Department began investigating Randolph Smith's disappearance when the Burlington City Police Department and the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office were notified that human remains were found in six plastic containers in Burlington, said Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal.

RELATED: Police Looking For Bergen Man, 44, Missing Since Christmas

The remains were later positively identified as those of Randolph Smith's, Grewal said.

Detectives determined that on or about Dec. 26, Adrienne Smith and her brother Orville Cousins, 40, purchased items that were used to desecrate Smith's remains, some of which were found at Smith's Bergenfield home, Grewal said.

Cousins was located and arrested in New York Sunday. Adrienne Smith was found at a relative's home in North Brunswick. Cousins and Smith were both charged with desecration of human remains. Smith was also charged with hindering apprehension, the prosecutor said.

Smith is being held at the Bergen County Jail and was scheduled to appear in court Saturday, Grewal said.

The investigation into Randolph Smith's murder is ongoing and additional charges may be forthcoming, Grewal said.

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Photos: Adrienne Smith, 43, and Orville Cousins, 40 — Bergen County Prosecutor's Office; Randolph Smith/Background image via Shutterstock