Prosecutor: Area Man Arrested for Murdering Father, Strangling Aunt

A 43-year-old Monmouth County man has been arrested and charged with breaking into his father’s home, attacking and murdering him and attacking another relative, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced on Thursday.

Ernest K. Kotey, of Hazlet, has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree burglary, and second-degree domestic violence strangulation in connection with the death of Nikoi Kotey, 77, his father, and neck injuries sustained by the other relative, a 67-year-old female.

Shortly after midnight on Wednesday, Aug. 17, Hazlet police responded to Nikoi Kotey’s home on Middle Road and found him unresponsive in a bedroom. He was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 5:45 p.m. yesterday.

An investigation involving members of the MCPO Major Crimes Bureau and Hazlet police determined that Ernest Kotey had broken in to the home via a rear entrance, confronted his father, and physically attacked him, causing the fatal injuries.

He then returned downstairs to attack his aunt, grabbing her by the throat until she managed to free herself and escape the house. Kotey was arrested at the scene and later transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI), where he remains pending a detention hearing to take place in Monmouth County Superior Court.

This case has been assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Luciano. Information on Kotey’s legal representation was not immediately available.

Anyone with any information about this matter is urged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Detective Brian Migliorisi at 800-533-7443 or Hazlet Police Department Detective Tristao at 732-264-6565.

Convictions on criminal charges of this nature are commonly punishable by terms of up to life in state prison.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office