Cousin of Jersey City Heights 'killer,' and victim, says brothers drank, didn't have jobs

Wednesday, January 27, 2010
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Heights man arraigned in brother's slaying

Charged with killing his brother in what cops say was an alcohol-fueled rage, Matthew McGovern, 43, of Central Avenue in Jersey City, made his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court yesterday.

"They both had a problem with drinking, and that changes your personality," said Jimmy English, 65, of Leonardo, formerly of Jersey City, a cousin of Matthew McGovern and his brother David, 45, who was found dead Monday at the home the two brothers shared.

David McGovern had been stabbed in his side and in his back multiple times with a steak knife, authorities said.

"I'm very sad. It's a terrible thing," English said.

Homicide detectives also believe alcohol was a factor in the fight leading to the homicidal violence.

English said the McGovern brothers had lived together for decades and neither was employed.

He said he could remember Matthew McGovern working for UPS for a while, but couldn't remember David McGovern ever working.

English said he saw the pair "once every blue moon," and that they weren't very connected to the family.

When Matthew McGovern appeared on the murder charges yesterday morning in Central Judicial Processing Court in Jersey City he had a prominent cut on his forehead and he told the judge that two of his fingers had been injured.

"By use of a steak knife you repeatedly stabbed the victim and caused his death," said CJP Judge Richard Nieto in reading from the complaint against McGovern, who appeared via a videolink from Hudson County jail in Kearny.

On Monday morning, Matthew McGovern called police, telling them his brother was dead in their home and when police arrived they found David McGovern dead and recovered the knife they suspect was used to stab him.

David McGovern was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:09 a.m. by officials of the Jersey City Medical Center.

Police believe Matthew McGovern left the apartment after the murder and returned some time later to call police, said Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio.

Officials originally said Hudson County Superior Court Judge Kevin Callahan set Matthew McGovern's bail at $1 million, but Nieto said yesterday morning that the bail is in fact set at $750,000 cash only.

Anyone with information on the killing is asked to contact the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office's Homicide Squad at (201) 915-1345.

Brother charged with stabbing Jersey City Heights man to death

Tuesday, January 26, 2010
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Brother charged in Heights stab killing

A Jersey City Heights man was arrested yesterday for allegedly stabbing his brother to death during an alcohol-fueled fight and then wrapping the dead man in a shower curtain, officials said.

Matthew McGovern, 43, of Central and Hopkins avenues, was charged with the murder of David McGovern, 45, of the same address, yesterday afternoon, police said.

Homicide detectives believe the pair were under the influence of alcohol from the previous night when they got into an argument, Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said.

The argument turned physical and that led to the stabbing, DeFazio said.

Matthew McGovern called 911 yesterday morning to say his brother was dead, but DeFazio said investigators believe "a significant amount of time" passed before the 911 call was made. Matthew McGovern did not say he was involved in the slaying when he called, police said.

When police arrived they found David McGovern dead and recovered the steak knife they believed was used to stab him multiple times in the side and back, DeFazio said. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:09 a.m. by officials of the Jersey City Medical Center.

Matthew McGovern was present when police arrived but he was not immediately charged. The investigation continued until Hudson County Superior Court Judge Kevin Callahan signed a warrant for his arrest in the afternoon. The judge set his bail at $1 million.

It's not clear when the body was wrapped in the shower curtain. Blood droplets were found in the building's common hallway, DeFazio said.

Matthew McGovern was processed by the Hudson County Sheriff's Office and transported to the Hudson County jail in Kearny. He is scheduled to make his first appearance on the murder charge this morning in Central Judicial Processing Court in Jersey City.

David McGovern's body was taken to the state Regional Medical Examiner's Office in Newark, where an autopsy will be performed.

Anyone with information about this death is asked to call the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office's Homicide Squad at (201) 915-1345.