693 Bruce Drive, Paramus, NJ
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of MELVIN THOMAS (DOB: 04/05/1991; single; unemployed) of Paramus, NJ, on charges of murder, desecration of human remains, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a weapon, and hindering. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Acting Chief Matthew Finck and the Paramus Police Department under the direction of Chief Robert M. Guidetti.
On Friday, February 16, 2024, at approximately 5:40 p.m., the Paramus Police Department responded to 693 Bruce Drive, Paramus, NJ on the report of a possible homicide. Upon arrival, responding officers located a 61-year-old male, identified as Manuel V. Thomas, in the basement of the residence. Mr. Thomas had sustained multiple stab wounds and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Shortly thereafter, MELVIN THOMAS was identified as the suspect and taken into police custody in Paramus, NJ.
As a result of the investigation, on Friday, February 16, 2024, MELVIN THOMAS was arrested in Paramus, NJ and charged with first-degree murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3(a)1; second-degree desecration of human remains, N.J.S.A. 2C:22-1a(1); second-degree hindering, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3b(3); third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4d; and fourth-degree possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5d. THOMAS was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, NJ.
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and he would like to thank the Paramus Police Department and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation.