Man Charged With Murder Of Stepmom In Cresskill Townhome

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Prosecutors have charged a man with the beating death of his stepmother in a Creskill townhome on Wednesday night, they said.

John Daniels Jr., 30, of 151 Stonegate Trail was charged with murder and weapons offenses in connection with the death of Irma Daniels, 48, who was beaten with a baseball bat, prosecutors said.

Irma Daniels was married to Daniels' father, according to an obituary. The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office confirmed that she was his stepmother.

Police responded at 6:46 p.m. Wednesday to a 911 call reporting that a person was beaten at the townhome.

Prosecutors said that after John Daniels allegedly struck Irma with the bat, he fled the residence.

Besides a charge of first-degree murder, Daniels has been charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, hindering apprehension by suppression, hindering apprehension by providing false information, and unlawful possession of a weapon, prosecutors said.

Daniels was taken to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.

Third Woman In Bergen County Killed By Relative In 4 Weeks

This year, calls to the domestic violence hotline in Bergen County have surged, officials have said.

In the last four weeks, three women have been killed in Bergen County by male relatives or their partners.

Statewide, in the first three months of 2023, 10 women and children in New Jersey were killed in domestic violence incidents.

Bergen County advocates said earlier this year that families members experiencing abuse or the threat of violence can reach out and make a plan even if they don't feel ready to leave yet. Read more about that here.

Where To Get Help

In an emergency, call 911.

The national Domestic Violence Hotline, reachable through phone, text, or chat, is 800-799-SAFE (7233), or you can text "Start" to 88788 to reach them by text.

The New Jersey hotline is 1-800-572-SAFE (7233). The list of county agencies is here, and other information on how to protect oneself legally in New Jersey is here.

Bergen County resources are:

Center for Hope and Safety

24 Hr. Hotline: 201-944-9600

Web: www.hopeandsafetynj.org

Bergen County Alternatives to Domestic Violence

24 Hr. Hotline: (201) 336-7575

Web: www.co.bergen.nj.us/divisions-of-alternatives-to-domestic-violence/alternatives-to-domestic-violence