Authorities have identified the bodies of three people found in a Van Ness Court apartment in Maplewood on Sunday.
The three have been identified as Michael Davis, 45, of Maplewood, Roshana Kenilson, 30, of Paterson and Lance Fraser, 44, of Newark, according to a release from the Essex County Prosecutor and Maplewood’s Police Chief.
The three sustained gunshot wounds but the cause and manner of death is still under investigation; autopsies are being performed today.
No motive or suspects have yet been identified, said Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas S. Fennelly in the release.
The incident marks the first homicides in Maplewood in nearly five years: The last homicides occurred in March 2012, when a 26-year-old Maplewood man was charged with killing his father and grandmother on Northview Terrace.
Van Ness Court, a dead end street, remained cordoned off by police as of Monday early afternoon. Village Green will continue to update this story as new information becomes available.
Here is the full release:
Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Maplewood Police Chief Robert Cimino announced today that Maplewood Police Department and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force are investigating an incident in which three people were found dead in a Maplewood apartment on Sunday.
The victims have been identified as Michael Davis, 45, of Maplewood, Roshana Kenilson, 30, of Paterson and Lance Fraser, 44, of Newark.
At approximately 11:45 am on Sunday, the Maplewood Fire Department responded to an apartment on Van Ness Court to check on the well-being of a resident after receiving a call from someone who had been unable to reach the occupants of the apartment.
Firefighters used a ladder to gain entry to the apartment. Upon entering the apartment, they discovered three unresponsive adults, two males and a female. The individuals were pronounced dead at the scene.
The preliminary investigation indicates that they sustained gunshot wounds but the cause and manner of death will be determined by the Medical Examiner. Autopsies are expected to be done today.
Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas S. Fennelly said at this time the motive for the murders is unclear. No suspects have been identified and no arrests have been made. The investigation is active and ongoing at this time, according to Fennelly.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Prosecutor’s Tips Line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or (877) 847-7432.
