A Denville man killed his mother and set their Indian Lakes section home on fire, authorities said.
Anthony Citro, 41, was charged with first-degree murder and arson after police and firefighters who responded to a fire on Monday found the remains of his mother inside the home they shared, authorities said.
Arriving at the scene on narrow, hilly Chestnut Hill Drive East, police found Citro outside the residence, with apparent blood on his clothing, said Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll.
The cause of death has been ruled homicide by the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Carroll identified the victim as Eileen Citro, 68. He charged her son on Tuesday after the Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the manner of death was sharp force injuries and ruled it a homicide.
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A North Jersey man accused of killing his mother and burning down his home Monday morning has been jailed on murder and arson charges, authorities said.
Anthony Citro, 41, was found with blood on his clothing as police responded to a fire at his home at 37 Chestnut Hill Dr. E. in Denville just before 7:25 a.m., Acting Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said in a joint release with Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, Chief of Detectives Chris Kimker and Denville Police Chief Frank Perna.
While extinguishing the blaze, fire crews found the body of Citro’s mother, Eileen Citro, 68, whose manner of death was determined to be sharp force injuries, Gannon said.
A spokesperson for the Morris County Prosecutor s Office said he was in custody pending a court appearance not yet scheduled, but declined to disclose his location. He was not yet incarcerated at the Morris County Correctional Facility on Wednesday, according to facility staff.
The court documents detail an argument Citro told police he had with his mother that morning. The affidavit stated Citro waved his rights at the scene and admitted he started the fire in a first floor bedroom. The flames damaged a bookcase and climbed the bedroom walls before responders put it out, stated the affidavit.
Directly above the fire-damaged bedroom, investigators said they found signs of a struggle in the kitchen area including blood and broken household items.