Man Murders Roommate With Rock During Dispute In Passaic County: Prosecutor

PATERSON, NJ — A Paterson man struck and killed his roommate with a rock during a dispute Sunday, according to the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

Paterson police responded to 288 12th Ave. for a report of an injured person at about 6:20 a.m. Sunday. They found the victim — publicly identified as M.B., a 39-year-old man — unresponsive and lying face-down on the living room floor of the first-floor apartment, the prosecutor's office said.

M.B. had a large laceration on the back of his head and was pronounced dead at the scene at about 6:40 a.m., authorities said.

Subsequent investigation revealed the man's roommate — Raymond Menafield — struck the victim in the head with a rock, which led to the death, according to the prosecutor's office.

Authorities took Menafield into custody without incident just after 4 p.m. Monday. The 40-year-old was charged with first-degree murder, third-degree possession of a weapon (rock) for an unlawful purpose and fourth-degree possession of a weapon (rock).

The state filed a motion for pretrial detention, which a superior court judge will hear. Anyone with additional information about this case can contact the prosecutor's office's tips line at 877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org or contact the Paterson Police Detective Bureau at 973-321-1120.

This is the second time in recent months that Passaic County authorities have accused someone of murdering their roommate. A Wayne man was charged with murder after strangling his roommate in November, the prosecutor's office said. Read more: Wayne Man Charged With Murder After Strangling Roommate: Prosecutor

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