Cause Of Death Released In Bergen Woman's Homicide

A North Arlington woman discovered dead in her apartment Friday was killed by mutliple blunt force trauma to the head, said Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal.

The medical examiner has determined that the cause of Luisa Pleger’s death was multiple blunt force trauma to the head, Grewal said. Police found Pleger’s body in the North Arlington apartment Friday she shared with her husband, Eric Pleger, Grewal said.

The Record, citing a legal complaint released last week, reported that the object used to to inflict the trauma was a hammer.

Eric Pleger, 45, was charged with first-degree murder and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, authorities said. He entered a not-guilty plea in state Superior Court in front of Susan Steele, The Record reported.

Authorities responded to the residence Friday afternoon after a ”concerned party” contacted authorities to check on Luisa Pleger’s welfare, Grewal said.

Luisa’s father Nelson Hernandez told nj.com that she found the ax in the apartment and gave it to her sister a few weeks before she was killed.

According to the report, Hernandez said Eric Pleger told Lusia he had it for protection.

Related: Bergen Husband Charged With Wife’s Murder: Prosecutor