Autopsies confirm elderly couple died in murder-suicide

ELMWOOD PARK, N.J. (AP) -- The deaths of an elderly couple whose bodies were found in their northern New Jersey home have been ruled a murder-suicide.

Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli announced Tuesday that autopsies determined 100-year-old Michael Juskin killed his wife with an ax while she lay in bed. Authorities say he then took his own life by cutting his wrists.

A motive for the attack remained under investigation. The Juskins were found dead at their Elmwood Park home on Monday morning, after an unidentified relative -- who wasn't in the home -- called authorities.

Authorities say police had responded on at least three occasions to the home of an elderly couple who died Sunday in an apparent murder-suicide at their northern New Jersey residence.

Authorities believe 100-year-old Michael Juskin, who family members say suffered from dementia, killed 88-year-old Rosalia Juskin with an ax as she slept, then killed himself in the bathroom with a knife.

A motive for the attack remained under investigation Tuesday.

Elmwood Park police tell The Record that officers had previously responded to three calls to the couple's home -- the latest on Jan. 13 when Rosalia Juskin said her husband was confused and locked her in the basement.

She told police she was having difficulty caring for him and police contacted the county's adult protective services. Authorities said they found nothing at the time to suspect Juskin would violently attack his wife.

Before that, police responded in September 2013 when Rosalia Juskin claimed her husband was harassing her and to a March 2012 911 call when they found him unstable and took him to a hospital for evaluation.

The Juskins were found dead at their Spruce Street home after a relative called authorities.

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