Monica Montone
The son of a former Jersey City police sergeant was arrested this afternoon and charged with strangling his wife nearly four months ago in their home in Country Village, authorities said this evening.
Kevin Montone, 34, a former civilian Jersey City police dispatcher, was arrested without incident at his home at 4:30 p.m. and he was charged with murdering Monica Montone, 34, on Aug. 18, Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Gene Rubino said.
The charge comes after yesterday’s conclusion of the investigation by the Medical Examiner’s Office Newark, which determined Monica Montone’s “cause of death was asphyxia due to neck compressions,” and the manner of her death was ruled a homicide, Rubino said.
On Aug. 18, a man sounding distraught called 911 from the home asking for an ambulance, and emergency responders found Monica Montone dead there. Kevin Montone was taken into custody that day and a neighbor told The Jersey Journal he appeared to be laughing uncontrollably when being placed into a police car.
At first Kevin Montone was charged only with drug counts, which included possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of heroin with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of school property, a criminal complaint said.
He posted bail on the drug charges, but Rubino said his bail on the murder charge has been set at $250,000 cash or bond.
Kevin Montone was terminated "for cause" on Aug. 9, 2013, according to city spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill.
Rubino said it is likely Montone will make his first court appearance on the murder charge on Monday. His mother is retired Jersey City Police Sgt. Valerie Montone.
The records room at the Hudson County jail in Kearny could not be reached to determine if Montone has posted the new bail.