NJ Domestic Violence Advocate Stabbed To Death By Husband, Officials Say

NORTH CAROLINA — A New Jersey woman who has spent decades advocating for domestic violence awareness was brutally killed by her husband in North Carolina recently, according to the Craven County Sheriff's Office.

Monica Muna Kazan-Scheck, originally from Paterson, was found stabbed to death by her husband, Nizam Mohammed Hajjeh, 60, from Fairfield Harbour, North Carolina, last month, authorities said.

On Feb. 24, around 10:30 p.m., police were called to a Fairfield Harbor home on reports of a stabbing.

Authorities found Kazan-Scheck dead in the home with “multiple stab wounds.”

Authorities identified her husband as the killer, authorities said.

Mohammed Hajjeh was charged with his wife’s murder and was taken to the Craven County Confinement Facility under no bond.

Monica’s Advocacy

Kazan-Scheck has lived in North Carolina for years, according to her family.

For more than a decade, she served as Executive Director of Promise Place, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, her family said.

“Under Monica’s unwavering leadership, the organization strengthened its advocacy programs, supported survivors through some of the most difficult moments of their lives, and became a vital resource within the Craven County court systems and community,” a GoFundMe reads.

In addition to her work with Promise Place, Kazan-Scheck worked with local religious groups and nonprofits in North Carolina to battle food insecurity in her community.

“(Kazan-Scheck) was a nationally accredited victim advocate certified in child forensic interviewing, specializing in domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, and drunk driving cases and was a relentless voice for those who could not speak for themselves,” her nephew, Ezekiel Kazan Somma, wrote. “She was the first on the scene for survivors, working closely with doctors and nurses to ensure that victims had a voice and would know their next steps through the tumultuous legal system.”

The GoFundMe that was launched by Kazan-Scheck’s family is raising money to help bring her body back to New Jersey, cover funeral costs, and other expected expenses.