Police seek ex of teacher brutally stabbed in New Jersey
In this undated photo provided by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, Anthony Novellino is shown. Morris County authorities were looking Sunday night for Novellino, the recently divorced ex-husband of a high school teacher whose battered body was found in a Denville, N.J. home where they both lived. Credit: AP
(AP) — Morris County authorities were looking Sunday night for the recently divorced ex-husband of a high school teacher whose battered body was found in a Denville home where they both lived.
County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi described 63-year-old Anthony Novellino as a "person of interest" in the death of 62-year-old Judith Novellino, who was stabbed more than 80 times. He also said that anyone who had recently dealt with Anthony Novellino should contact authorities.
Bianchi said Novellino was last seen driving a black 1992 Mazda Miata with a tan convertible roof. He said anyone who locates Novellino should not approach him, but rather immediately report it to law enforcement officials.
A family member found Judith Novellino's body around 7 p.m. Saturday and called 911. Bianchi said it appears that the woman, an English teacher at Morris Catholic High School, and her killer were involved in "a violent struggle."
But he declined to provide further details, including what type of weapon was used to kill Novellino or where on her body she was stabbed.
"You could definitely tell there was a struggle," Bianchi said of the home's interior where Novellino was found. "People were fighting during the attack."
Bianchi would not comment on a possible motive, but did say the slaying apparently was not "a random murder." He said it's believed Novellino was killed sometime Saturday afternoon.
An autopsy performed Sunday morning by the county Medical Examiner's Office determined that Novellino died from blunt force trauma, Bianchi said, adding that the death has been ruled a homicide.
While Morris Catholic High School is in recess for the summer, school personnel will meet with county officials Monday to lend whatever assistance they can provide.
School President Michael St. Pierre told the Daily Record of Parsippany that Novellino — who had worked at the school in Denville for more than 25 years and also taught French there — was "a trusted teacher and a dedicated professional who loved the school and loved our students."
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