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Authorities struggle to ID 3 found dead in NJ home

Saturday, May 17, 2008

TENAFLY, N.J. —  The bodies of three people found inside a home this week were so badly decomposed that their identities will have to be confirmed through dental records, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said Saturday night.

Authorities had hoped to have a relative identify the victims discovered Friday night but those plans were scrapped Saturday due to the condition of the bodies, said Frank Puccio, the executive assistant county prosecutor.

Puccio said officials would likely not be able to confirm the victims' identities until sometime next week. However, authorities believe the three _ described as a man apparently in his 70s, a woman apparently in her 50s and a male believed to be in his 20s _ lived in the home and that one of them owned it.

Each victim was stabbed multiple times, and authorities said the bodies could have been in the 3-story home for over a week. It appears that the last time anyone had contact with any of the victims was May 3, Puccio said.

Meanwhile, autopsies were being performed on Saturday as authorities continued to search for clues and a motive in the deaths.

Neighbors said investigators searched the block _ including sewers _ for clues late Friday and Saturday, but it was not known if they recovered any evidence.

Authorities said the house had not been ransacked and there were no signs of a struggle. The older man's body was found on the second floor, while the other two bodies were discovered on the third floor of the home.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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