ECPO: Nutley man charged with murdering his mother-in-law

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force and the Nutley Police Department are investigating the murder of Barbara Ann Bezzone, 84, of Nutley, who it appears was killed by her son-in-law, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II and Nutley Police Chief Thomas J. Strumolo announced this afternoon.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at approximately 8:21 p.m., Nutley police received a 911 call from a man on Prospect Street who said he had killed his mother-in-law.

When police arrived, they said they discovered Bezzone lying on the floor, unresponsive, with severe injuries.

She was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:45 p.m.

James Pica, 58, was arrested and charged with her murder.

The investigation is active and ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office tips line at 877-847-7432.

All calls are kept confidential.

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Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, an organization he has served since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on social media channels such as YouTube, Facebook, and X, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to Kearny to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.