Mercer County prosecutor’s office says Roebling man believed ex-wife was having affair with victim.
By: Mark Moffa
A Roebling man last week murdered a Washington Township man he suspected of having an affair with his ex-wife, officials from the Mercer County prosecutor’s office said Wednesday.
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Related stories: • Murder shocks Project Freedom (Nov. 15, 2001) |
At about 8:30 p.m. Friday, 37-year-old David Kovacs of Roebling shot 38-year-old Louis Villa Jr. of Washington once in the chest with a .38 caliber handgun, according to Casey DeBlasio, spokeswoman for prosecutor’s office.
Mr. Villa was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mr. Kovacs was arrested about an hour later in Hamilton Township.
Mr. Kovacs is charged with Mr. Villa’s murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon.
He is being held at the Mercer County Detention Center in lieu of $750,000 bail.
At a hearing Wednesday in front of Superior Court Judge Charles Delehey, Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Meidt asked the judge to keep the bail at $750,000.
He said Mr. Kovacs gave a statement to police in which he admitted to the murder.
"It’s alleged that his wife was having an affair with the victim," said Mr. Meidt, who is the chief of the prosecutor’s Homicide Unit.
Mr. Meidt said Mr. Kovacs stayed overnight at a friend’s house in Bordentown a night or two before the murder, stealing a gun and $175 from the unidentified woman.
He said Mr. Kovacs drove to the ShopRite on Route 33 in Hamilton on Friday, where Mr. Villa worked.
He waited until Mr. Villa left work, and drove to Project Freedom, the apartment complex for people with disabilities on Huchinson Road in Washington where Mr. Villa lived.
Mr. Villa, who was wheelchair-bound, was paralyzed from the waist down. Mr. Kovacs and his ex-wife, who has cerebral palsy, used to live in Project Freedom. The couple moved five or six years ago. Officials from Project Freedom said Mr. Villa and Mrs. Kovacs still were friends.
Mr. Meidt said Mr. Kovacs parked his car in a location where Mr. Villa would not see it, since Mr. Villa would recognize the car.
"He got out of his car, confronted the victim, and shot him once in the chest area," Mr. Meidt said.
He then said Mr. Kovacs called his ex-wife whom he divorced earlier this year. Mr. Kovacs allegedly said, "I just killed your boyfriend."
Mr. Meidt said Mr. Kovacs tried to call his parents collect, but was unable to get through.
Hamilton police arrested Mr. Kovacs around 9:30 p.m. Friday walking on Cedar Lane in Hamilton. Mr. Meidt said the gun used to kill Mr. Villa was found in Mr. Kovac’s car, which was parked at the ShopRite on Route 33.
Mr. Meidt added that Mr. Kovacs has no prior record.
Judge Delehey said he would uphold the bail of $750,000.
He said Mr. Kovacs was approved for a public defender, who will meet with him soon.
"If there is reason for the court to lower the bail, the public defender will make an application," the judge told Mr. Kovacs.
Mr. Kovacs, who was present for the hearing such proceedings usually occur via teleconference did not speak.
Ms. DeBlasio said the prosecutor’s office likely would seek a first-degree murder conviction, which would result in 30 years to life in prison.
The next step in his case will be indictment by a grand jury, which usually occurs in four to six weeks, Ms. DeBlasio said.
Washington Township Detectives Vince Estelle and Chris Nitti are investigating the case, along with Detective Dave McGuiness from the Mercer County prosecutor’s office.