On Tuesday, July 13th, two dead bodies were found inside the Hotel Riviera, located at the corner of Clinton Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Newark. The deceased were one male and one female. The room they were in was said to have had a foul smelling odor.
Speaking with a few people, I found out that the female was possibly pregnant at the time of her death. A friend had called her for three days, but did not get a reply. The only time she heard her voice during that time was a voicemail on the phone of the deceased saying to leave a message.
The friend further said that the victim lived on the sixth floor, and stayed by herself. Also, as stated by the friend, the only people who would enter her room were those she knew.
The deceased male was said to be a street mechanic who worked nearby the hotel.
UPDATE: The following is a release sent by Chief of Detectives Anthony Ambrose:
"Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert Laurino has announced the Medical Examiner has ruled the deaths of the male and female found at the Hotel Riviera a double homicide.
At approximately 8:30 A.M. yesterday (July 13) the Newark Police responded to the hotel after guests at the hotel were complaining of a foul odor on the 6th floor. A maintenance employee accessed the room and found the lifeless bodies of Adrian Price, 55 and Towanna Freeman, 42. The victims who are boyfriend and girlfriend have been living at the hotel since December 15, 2009. Ms. Freeman was pregnant in her second trimester.
I will not comment on the causes of death at this time. There have been no arrests in the investigation.
The Essex County Prosecutor's and Newark Police Department's Homicide Squads are actively investigating the Murders.
Under New Jersey law the fetus is unborn and not considered a homicide victim according to Thomas S. Fennelly, Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor."
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