NJ woman, 79, killed by son wielding fire poker, reports say

DUMONT — A 79-year-old woman is dead after being attacked by a man with a fire poker, according to prosecutors.

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said that the victim was found in her Dumont home at 124 New Milford Avenue across from Dumont High School shortly before midnight on Saturday. She was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center and pronounced dead early Sunday morning.

Dumont police responded to a 911 call reporting the attack, Musella said. The call included that the woman had been struck by the fire poker by a 40-year-old man.

First responders identified the victim as Linda Maupai, The Daily Voice reported.

The outlet also reported that the accused attacker was Patrick Maupai, the victim's 40-year-old son. Maupai reportedly made the 911 call and admitted to striking his mother in the head with the fire poker.

The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office has not yet confirmed the identity of the victim or the attacker and would not release further information. The death is being investigated as a homicide, Musella said.

Rick Rickman is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at richard.rickman@townsquaremedia.com

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