NJ Man Who Shot Himself Dead Was To Be Arrested For Murder Of 'Wife': Complaint

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A man who took his own life in Lyndhurst on Thursday was about to be arrested in the death of a missing Elizabeth woman, records show.

Brendan Trivisonno, 38, fatally shot himself early Thursday morning in his Lyndhurst home as detectives tried to negotiate for him to come out, said Jeff Angermeyer, chief of detectives for the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.

He was about to be arrested on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Janaina Freire Goncalves, 47, of Elizabeth, who'd gone missing the night of March 10, 2025.

The police complaint in the case details the moments that led up to Goncalves' death on March 10, and Trivisonno's apparent coverup afterward.

The complaint says that Goncalves had married Trivisonno some time in 2024, but that Trivisonno had married another woman three weeks earlier. Trivisonno's first wife knew he was having an affair, the complaint says.

Video Showed Last Moments

According to the complaint in the case from the Union County Prosecutor's Office:

Goncalves was reported missing on March 13, 2025.

Elizabeth police responded to an apartment at 634 New Point Road to investigate.

They found surveillance video of Trivisonno parking at the building on the night of March 10, in a white van marked with "Triv Construction."

Goncalves was then seen on the video letting Trivisonno into the building.

At some point, according to a neighbor's account, Goncalves said "Give me the keys for the car," banged on the wall, and threatened to call police.

"And minutes later," the complaint says, "the noise stopped."

Removed Bags

Surveillance video showed Trivisonno leaving just before 11 p.m. that night, holding a duffel bag and trash bag. He drove away, the complaint says, but returned at 2:11 a.m., leaving again at 6:06 a.m. with more trash bags, which he placed in a passing garbage truck.

He and an employee re-entered the building after 10 a.m. on March 11 and left with a container, the complaint says. According to the complaint, the worker told detectives that Trivisonno asked for help lifting something heavy.

Handwritten Letter Found

Detectives used Goncalves' bank records to determine that she had a safe deposit box. Inside the box were cash, identification, and a "hand-written letter, saying she was in fear of [Trivosonno] and that if the letter was found, something happened to her."

Goncalves' first wife told police that she remembered him returning home "in the middle of the night" on March 11 and saying something happened to his truck and he needed a different vehicle.

Detectives found blood in Goncalves' bedroom, the report says, and compared it to that of Goncalves' son. The blood contained DNA from both Goncalves and Trivisonno.

Over the ensuing year, Trivisonno was questioned in the disappearance, say media reports from 2025. Prosecutors charged him last week.

On Thursday morning, just after 5 a.m., they headed to Trivisonno's home on Lake Avenue in Lyndhurst. He barricaded himself inside, officials said.

The Bergen County Regional SWAT Team responded to negotiate. Trivisonno, who was alone in the house, then fatally shot himself, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said.

Prosecutors said Monday that he died of a gunshot wound to the head.

Officials declined to respond to followup questions.

PRIOR REPORTING: Man Who Fatally Shot Himself Was Wanted In Death Of Missing Woman