Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Hawthorne Police Chief James W. Knepper
announce that on January 11, 2024, at approximately 9:03 p.m., the Hawthorne Police
Department was dispatched to a reported fire in the area of 4th Avenue and Lafayette Avenue.
Patrol Units found an active fire in the rear of 20 4th Avenue, and the Hawthorne Fire
Department successfully extinguished the fire. Once the fire was extinguished, they found a
deceased unidentified man.
This investigation is active and ongoing. More information will be released when it becomes
available.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this
incident to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org or contact
the Hawthorne Police Department at (973) 427-1800.
