By Alicia Cruz
The Black Urban Times
The former husband of Morris Catholic High School teacher, Judith Novellino had his bail amount doubled at his first court appearance since being returned to New Jersey from Washington State for the murder of his ex-wife, The Star-Ledger reported. Superior Court Judge David Ironson said Novellino represented "an extreme flight risk"
before he doubled the Deville mans bail to $2 million.
Anthony Novellino, 63, was captured after a tip led police to a motel in Puyallup, Washington where police say he fled to after the murder with the hope of meeting up with a woman Novellino had been corresponding with in an online chat room.
Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Kelley Lavery told judge Ironson that Novellino's "flight signifies a consciousness of guilt." A defendant's bail for a murder charge typically ranges up to $1 million, the Star-Ledger reported, but Lavery sought a $2 million cash-only bond, citing the "brutal nature of the slaying," Novellino fleeing cross-country in addition to his "mental condition" and lack of ties to the New Jersey area although Anthony Novellino has no criminal record and has lived his entire life in Denville. Lavery said the defendant has been estranged from his father, brother
and two children.
With no sign of robbery or evidence of a break-in, it does not appear Judith Novellino's murder was random. A neighbor told police that the morning of the murder, Anthony Novellino asked if he could park his car in her driveway and she agreed. Police believe he did this so Judith Novellino would not see him arriving, a court affidavit said.
Police believe Anthony Novellino, a former security guard, savagely stabbed his ex-wife 84 times with a "sharp object" sometime around 9:45 a.m. on June 19 as she attempted to remove some of her belongings from the home they once shared together, then in a final act of "emasculation," said Lavery, placed a Halloween mask over her face and left her body to be found by her daughter.
Prosecutors allege that Anthony Novellino's motive for murdering his ex-wife was the couple's contentious divorce, which had recently been finalized. The divorce left Anthony Novellino bitter and broke. Lavery said he believes Anthony Novellino decided to kill his ex-wife the morning he found her removing her belongings from the Cliffside Trail home.
"There appears to be a clear motive, that motive being the divorce," Lavery said. "He was going to suffer severe financial consequences."
Novellino’s financial accounts, which had been frozen until the divorce settlement was final, showed he retained a $39,400 retirement annuity on Feb. 2, and his retirement savings were valued at $7,000 as of April 16, the affidavit said. Judith was to retain her school pension and he was required to give half of his stock accounts worth $320,000 to her, as well as pay her $110,000 to buy her share of their home. All transactions were to be completed within 30 days of the divorce settlement. While he had no recent bank activity, Novellino had $3,700 in cash when he was arrested, Lavery said.
Another motive, say prosecutors, was the extreme animosity Anthony Novellino held towards his ex-wife. That animosity left him "unstable," said Lavery, who claims Novellino recently sent photos of a messy home to Judith’s sister and cousin in an attempt to embarrass the 62-year-old high school English teacher. Then, on June 12, Lavery says Anthony Novellino left a "sarcastic" note at the home of his father and brother that read, "Thank you for always taking her side."
"He seemed to be devolving" between the June 8 divorce and killing, said Lavery.
On June 24, Novellino was charged with having threatened his ex-wife's divorce attorney, when he appeared in court, via video to answer for his ex-wife's murder, Judge Ironson set bail for that offense at $30,000 bail.
Novellino, who is being held at the Morris County jail, answered "Yes, your honor" and "No, your honor" to procedural questions, The Star-Ledger reported. If convicted of Judith Novellino's murder, he faces 30 years to life in prison.
The Judith Novellino Memorial Fund
before he doubled the Deville mans bail to $2 million.
Anthony Novellino, 63, was captured after a tip led police to a motel in Puyallup, Washington where police say he fled to after the murder with the hope of meeting up with a woman Novellino had been corresponding with in an online chat room.
Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Kelley Lavery told judge Ironson that Novellino's "flight signifies a consciousness of guilt." A defendant's bail for a murder charge typically ranges up to $1 million, the Star-Ledger reported, but Lavery sought a $2 million cash-only bond, citing the "brutal nature of the slaying," Novellino fleeing cross-country in addition to his "mental condition" and lack of ties to the New Jersey area although Anthony Novellino has no criminal record and has lived his entire life in Denville. Lavery said the defendant has been estranged from his father, brother
and two children.
With no sign of robbery or evidence of a break-in, it does not appear Judith Novellino's murder was random. A neighbor told police that the morning of the murder, Anthony Novellino asked if he could park his car in her driveway and she agreed. Police believe he did this so Judith Novellino would not see him arriving, a court affidavit said.
Police believe Anthony Novellino, a former security guard, savagely stabbed his ex-wife 84 times with a "sharp object" sometime around 9:45 a.m. on June 19 as she attempted to remove some of her belongings from the home they once shared together, then in a final act of "emasculation," said Lavery, placed a Halloween mask over her face and left her body to be found by her daughter.
Prosecutors allege that Anthony Novellino's motive for murdering his ex-wife was the couple's contentious divorce, which had recently been finalized. The divorce left Anthony Novellino bitter and broke. Lavery said he believes Anthony Novellino decided to kill his ex-wife the morning he found her removing her belongings from the Cliffside Trail home.
"There appears to be a clear motive, that motive being the divorce," Lavery said. "He was going to suffer severe financial consequences."
Novellino’s financial accounts, which had been frozen until the divorce settlement was final, showed he retained a $39,400 retirement annuity on Feb. 2, and his retirement savings were valued at $7,000 as of April 16, the affidavit said. Judith was to retain her school pension and he was required to give half of his stock accounts worth $320,000 to her, as well as pay her $110,000 to buy her share of their home. All transactions were to be completed within 30 days of the divorce settlement. While he had no recent bank activity, Novellino had $3,700 in cash when he was arrested, Lavery said.
Another motive, say prosecutors, was the extreme animosity Anthony Novellino held towards his ex-wife. That animosity left him "unstable," said Lavery, who claims Novellino recently sent photos of a messy home to Judith’s sister and cousin in an attempt to embarrass the 62-year-old high school English teacher. Then, on June 12, Lavery says Anthony Novellino left a "sarcastic" note at the home of his father and brother that read, "Thank you for always taking her side."
"He seemed to be devolving" between the June 8 divorce and killing, said Lavery.
On June 24, Novellino was charged with having threatened his ex-wife's divorce attorney, when he appeared in court, via video to answer for his ex-wife's murder, Judge Ironson set bail for that offense at $30,000 bail.
Novellino, who is being held at the Morris County jail, answered "Yes, your honor" and "No, your honor" to procedural questions, The Star-Ledger reported. If convicted of Judith Novellino's murder, he faces 30 years to life in prison.
The Judith Novellino Memorial Fund
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