Family Of Four Murdered In Jersey City

[Pharo Of Egypt]

Family Of Four Murdered In Jersey City

Jan 14, 2005 3:54 pm US/Eastern (JERSEY CITY) Four family members were found slain in their home Friday morning. All were bound and gagged, and their throats were slashed, First Assistant Hudson County Prosecutor Gaetano T. Gregory said.

Jersey City police broke down the door to the home about 4 a.m. after concerned relatives said they had not heard from the family for several days, authorities said.

The victims were Hossam Armanious, 46; his wife, Amal Garas, 36; and their daughters, Sylvia Armanious, 16, and Monica Armanious, 8.

No arrests had been made as of Friday afternoon.

Investigators spent the morning at the family's house near the Hudson County Courthouse, donning white boots when entering the green, two-story wood frame home. The porch was bedecked with Christmas decorations including tinsel lights, red bows and garland wrapped around the handrail.

Hossam Armanious bought the house in November 2000 for $96,500, records show.

Ayman Garas, brother of the slain woman, told reporters his sister was "a very peaceful person."

"She's got nothing against anybody," Garas said. "I have no answers."

The younger girl attended P.S. 6, around the corner from the home, while her sister went to Dickenson High School. School authorities had no immediate comment.

"I feel very, very bad," said Mohammed Riaz Khan, who lives across the street from the victims. "They were a nice family."

"They were good people," added Betty Garro, who works as a housekeeper next door.

Authorities reportedly were investigating whether a former tenant, who had had a dispute with the family, was involved.

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