By Vic Monaco, Managing Editor
HIGHTSTOWN The borough Police Department’s probe of a double stabbing in September was closed less than a month later, according to Chief James Eufemia.
”The stabbing case was closed on Oct. 17, due to uncooperative victims,” the chief wrote in an e-mail to the Herald this week. “The victims refuse to have any contact with law enforcement at this time, and we have exhausted all other avenues investigating this case.
”Should we receive any new information, or a witness surfaces, we will reopen the case.”
Two men, described previously by the chief police only as from New Jersey but “not from this area,” were hospitalized briefly after being stabbed on Rogers Avenue. Hamilton police have said there is a connection between the stabbings and the 2006 murder of Kirston Greenwood, who was found dead in Hamilton. And Ms. Greenwood sister, Kian Picquet, has told the Herald that the men were stabbed because they killed her sister.
But the borough’s lone detective, Ben Miller, has disagreed that there is evidence linking the two incidents.
Chief Eufemia’s comments this week were in contrast to those recently made by Detective Ben Miller, who on Oct. 31 gave the clear impression the case was still open.
Asked if he had given up on the case because of the lack of cooperation of the men stabbed, he said, “I never give up on anything. I’m a bulldog.”
Each subsequent week, the Herald asked the detective if there was anything new related to the case, and he said no.
Asked about the apparent contradiction over when the case was closed, Detective Miller said he didn’t recall making those comments Oct. 31.
”I think that ends the contradiction,” the chief added.
Staff writer Matt Chiappardi contributed to this story.
