Crime & Safety
Son's Hammer Attack on Dad Now Murder, Prosecutor Says
John Mekeel Jr. is accused of beating his father, who died from his injuries on Sunday.
The Essex Fells man who threatened suicide last month after beating his father with a hammer now faces murder charges following his dad's death on Sunday, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said.
John Mekeel Jr., 46, was found holding a knife to his throat outside a Fellscrest Road home on June 30 at about 3:45 a.m., the prosecutor's office said.
After convincing Mekeel not to harm himself, officers found John Mekeel Sr., 69, inside the home with severe head trauma, the prosecutor's office said. A bloodstained hammer was recovered from the scene, the prosecutor's office said.
John Mekeel Sr. was transported to Morristown Medical Center before succumbing to his injuries on Sunday.
John Mekeel Jr. was initially charged with aggravated assault and possession of a weapon. The charges were upgraded to murder on Monday, the prosecutor's office said.
Mekeel is being held on $350,000 bail.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
