Gregory Meyer appears inset in two images, left and right, against an image showing the area where he was killed in Boonton, N.J. on Dec. 24, 2023. (GoFundMe; Google Maps)
A New Jersey man with a history of mental illness and addiction killed his father in particularly gruesome fashion on Christmas Eve, authorities and family members say.
Kyle Meyer, 33, stands accused of one count each of intentional murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon, for the brutal slaying of Gregory Meyer, 61, according to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.
The grim crime is believed to have been committed using an ax and a battery-operated pole saw, according to court documents.
On Dec. 24, authorities responded to the Meyer home on Old Denville Road in Boonton, a small town some 15 miles west of Paterson.
There, the victim was found deceased at around 1:15 p.m., authorities say. The elder Meyer lived in the residence with his son, who quickly became a suspect in the killing. The defendant was arrested and charged in Paterson at around 9 p.m. later that same day.
The victim and his alleged killer lived in the same house together — along with the victim’s mother and sister, according to a statement of probable cause filed in the case and obtained by NorthJersey.com.
Gregory Meyer’s mother was in the house while it happened. She reportedly told police that she heard an argument between her son and grandson that eventually escalated to screaming followed by silence. Then, she called her own daughter, who called 911.
At the scene, investigators allegedly found the two presumed murder weapons next to the deceased man’s body. Each of the tools appeared to be stained with blood, according to the affidavit cited by the outlet.
The victim appeared to be suffering from ax wounds to his left leg as well as saw wounds on his head, fingers, and hands, NorthJersey.com reported. The pole saw also appeared to have remnants of fabric that matched with the fabric on the back of Gregory Meyer’s jacket.
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“Greg was greatly loved by his friends and family and we are grieving his death,” the Meyer family said in a statement provided to regional cable station News 12. “Our family believes it lost Greg’s son Kyle many years ago when Kyle gave himself over to alcohol and abuse of drugs legal and illegal. That abuse led to recurring periods of delusions and extreme paranoia, making him think others were out to kill him.”
“Greg was a loving father who tried to help,” the family’s statement continued. “Our family was told Kyle could not be committed against his will unless he made threats—we want to warn other families that mental illness should be taken seriously, and those with delusions of paranoia can be a violent threat waiting to happen.”
No motive has been floated by law enforcement thus far.
In an email, a spokesperson for the Boonton Township Police Department said the investigation into the murder is ongoing.
The defendant is being detained in the Morris County jail. On Tuesday, he pleaded not guilty during an initial appearance. He is slated to appear in court again on Thursday for a detention hearing.
“On behalf of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, we offer our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and friends,” Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll told Law&Crime in an email. “We understand the impact such a loss can have on the community, and we ask for respect and privacy for the family. I would like to remind the community that our investigation remains active and ongoing. I would also like to acknowledge the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Boonton Township Police, and Paterson Police Department for their efforts in this investigation.”
In a GoFundMe for funeral expenses and ongoing support for the victim’s 94-year-old mother, the Meyer family reiterated the pain that comes from a forever loss and their concerns about mental health.
“Our family is suddenly faced with many burdens from this unbearable tragedy,” the fundraiser reads. “We ask all families to take mental illness and addiction seriously. God bless you.”
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