Son Tried To Burn Father's Body After Fatal Stabbing In Bergen County: Officials

PARAMUS, NJ — A son who has been charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of his father in Paramus last week is also accused of trying to burn his father's body and make other attempts to conceal the crime, court documents state.

Melvin M. Thomas, 32, of Paramus was charged last Friday, Feb. 16 with first-degree murder in the death of Manuel V. Thomas, 61, who was found stabbed to death in the basement of their home earlier that day.

Thomas, who lived at 693 Bruce Drive, also has been charged with desecration of human remains, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a weapon, and hindering, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said last weekend.

Prosecutors said that on Friday, Feb. 16, at approximately 5:40 p.m., the Paramus Police Department responded to the Bruce Drive home on the report of a possible homicide. They found the body of the elder Thomas in the basement with "multiple stab wounds."

Melvin Thomas was identified as a suspect shortly afterward and taken into police custody in Paramus, prosecutors said.

A Paramus Police complaint obtained by Patch says that the stabbing had occurred on Feb. 14.

The complaint says, "Following the stabbing, Thomas moved the body to a nearby bathroom and attempted to light MT on fire with a lighter. This attempt failed." It then says the suspect cleaned the kitchen knife used in the crime, and cleaned areas of the house in an attempt to conceal the crime.

The complaint says someone else called 911 and provided details.

Thomas was brought to the Prosecutor's Office in Paramus on Friday, where he was interviewed.

Thomas is identified in the complaint as a family member of the victim, but his obituary and news outlets have identified him as one of the victim's three children.

The obituary says that victim Manuel Thomas's wife, Lissy had died in 2021. It says he was born in India and last worked as a financial services representative for MetLife and MassMutual.

Services for Manuel Thomas will be held this weekend.

Melvin Thomas has been taken to Bergen County Jail to await his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.

READ MORE: Man Charged With Murder After Older Man Found Dead In Paramus Home