2 dead in apparent Belleville murder-suicide, authorities say

Two people were dead in a murder-suicide on New Street in Belleville Friday, authorities said.

BELLEVILLE — A man and woman are dead after an apparent murder-suicide in Belleville, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said Saturday.

Police discovered the bodies of John Sykes, 47, and Felicia Hunt, 23, in a home on New
Street around 6:30 p.m. Friday, according to the prosecutor's office. Officers were called to the residence to check on Sykes after he didn't show up for work.

“As the officers peered in a window they observed a male and female lying dead," the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

Sykes apparently killed Hunt before taking his own life, Essex County Prosecutor's Office Chief of Detectives Anthony Ambrose said.

The two lived together at the house and “appeared” to be involved in a relationship, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Autopsies were pending and the Essex County Homicide Task Force was investigating.

Authorities did not immediately provide additional details.

Check back at nj.com/essex for updates.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.