NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey announced the arrest of a 16-year-old male in connection with a tragic murder case, the first reported killing this year in the Hub City.
Three hours after police were first contacted, they arrested the teenager in Bridgewater, about 10 miles away from the scene of the crime, a luxury apartment building in downtown known as Skyline Tower.
Christine Huh, a 23-year-old resident of the Somerset section of Franklin Township, was unresponsive when emergency personnel and police arrived on scene shortly after a call for help came in at about 3:15am.
A joint investigation of the New Brunswick Police Department (NBPD) and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office concluded that Huh “had been visiting a friend when she was attacked.”
According to police radio transmissions, the call first came in as “an unconscious female,” described to EMS as a “sick person” in room #903 of the 70-unit apartment building, which was once the county government’s headquarters.
“Start heading over to 60 Paterson Street, apartment 903,” dispatchers told officers at 3:14am. Â “I have an unconscious female I’m not sure what her situation is and the caller’s too scared to check on her friend.”
Ten minutes later, the New Brunswick Fire Department was also dispatched to the scene for what was described to them as a victim of “cardiac arrest.”
But eventually it became clear that the victim had been seriously injured in an apparent stabbing, according to the prosecutor’s statement.Â
Though authorities did not identify the suspect, police radio transmissions indicate the teenager was reportedly driving a “2007 BMW 300 series, 4-door, black in color.”
At approximately 6:15am, just three hours into the investigation, police made an arrest in Bridgewater Township, and Dependable Motors was called in to tow away the suspect vehicle.
The 16-year-old was charged with juvenile delinquency and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, according to a release from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Authorities are withholding the name of the suspect, who they said was being held at the Middlesex County Youth Detention Center pending a juvenile hearing in Family Court. Â It’s not clear if this has happened yet.
“This kid that killed her better be tried as an adult,” wrote someone who identified Huh as a co-worker.
“While it appeared the woman had been stabbed, the cause of death has yet to be determined,” read the MCPO presss release, adding that an autopsy being performed by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office was not immediately available.
Friends mourned the loss of Huh on social media.
“RIP Christine. You’re in a better place now,” wrote on friend on several social outlets.
“Terrible to hear that you’re gone but heaven just received an angel,” posted another on Twitter. Â “Keeping the Huh’s in my prayers.”
According to the Franklin Reporter & Advocate, the fatal incident was not Huh’s first brush with danger this year.
On New Year’s Day, Huh “was driving down School House Road when, she said, she swerved to avoid a deer,” according to the website’s police blotter. Â “Her car jumped the curb and struck a PSE&G utility pole.”
In 2000, developer Pennrose Properties transformed the 12-story building that was once the tallest in the city into eight floors of luxury rental apartments, and two floors of offices for the county courthouse, which is connected to the tower.
“Certainly nothing like this has happened at Skyline Tower before or any of the New Brunswick properties that I’m aware of,” said Lee Reedy, Director of Marketing for the company which has properties in more than a dozen states, and has been active in New Brunswick for almost 25 years.
Among the company’s other holdings in the Hub City are The George, The Vue, Providence Square I & II, and Livingston Manor.
The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office indicated their investigation was active and ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Raymond Quick of the NBPD at (732) 745-5217, or Detective Canastra of the MCPO at (732) 745-3809.
Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.
