Suspect Identified Years Later Through Trace Evidence Analysis

Sunday, February 15, 2026, 8:30 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

TENAFLY, NJ.- On Friday, February 13, 2026, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella reported that Juvenile charges have been formally filed against a 19-year-old Essex County, New Jersey, man in connection with a violent home invasion, burglary, and vehicle theft that occurred in Tenafly nearly three years ago.

     The charges stem from a joint investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Jeff Angermeyer, and the Tenafly Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert Chamberlain.

     According to prosecutors, the defendant was 17 years old at the time of the offense and has now been charged as a juvenile delinquent for his alleged role in the April 30, 2023, attack.

Violent Home Invasion On Mahan Street;

     Authorities said that on Sunday, April 30, 2023, at approximately 7:30 p.m., officers from the Tenafly Police Department responded to a report of a home invasion burglary and motor vehicle theft at a private residence on Mahan Street in Tenafly.

     Upon arrival, officers spoke with the victim, who reported that an unknown male wearing a surgical mask forcibly entered the home, attacked him with a knife, and stole his vehicle, which had been parked outside the residence.

     The victim sustained a large contusion to the head and a laceration to the nose during the assault. Emergency assistance was provided, and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad was immediately notified and responded to the scene.

Years-Long Investigation Leads To Identification;

     Law enforcement officials processed the crime scene and recovered items of evidentiary value. Prosecutors said the investigation continued over several years and involved detailed forensic and trace-evidence analysis.

     As a result of that work, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Tenafly Police Department were ultimately able to identify the masked suspect as a then-17-year-old juvenile from Essex County who allegedly committed the home invasion burglary and robbery.

Charges Served While Incarcerated;

     On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the suspect, now 19 years old, was served with juvenile delinquency charges while already incarcerated at the Bergen County Jail on unrelated matters.

     The juvenile delinquency charges include:

• Second-degree robbery 
• Second-degree armed burglary 
• Third-degree theft of movable property
• Fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon 

     Because the defendant was a juvenile at the time of the alleged offense, prosecutors noted that the matter is being handled within the juvenile justice system, in accordance with New Jersey law.

     The investigation remains a collaborative effort between the county and local law enforcement agencies.

Editor’s Note:

This article was written by Art Fletcher, Executive Editor, and is based on official statements released by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Juvenile delinquency matters are subject to confidentiality provisions under New Jersey statute, and identifying details have been limited accordingly.