Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino has announced that authorities are investigating the recovery of two bodies from a lake in Weequahic Park earlier today.
Police say at approximately 11:00 am today, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office received calls about a possible body floating in the lake.
Sheriff’s officers responded to the lake, and with the assistance of the Newark Fire Department, removed the body of an unidentified female from the lake.
The female was pronounced dead at 11:25 a.m. Detectives from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Task Force arrived at the park to investigate this incident.
Authorities say while detectives were canvassing the park and lake area, they observed another person floating in another section of the lake. With the assistance of the Newark Fire Department and officers from the Sheriff’s Office, authorities recovered the body of an unidentified male.
The male was pronounced dead at 3:03 p.m. according to police.
The cause and manner of death of both individuals will be determined by autopsies, which will be performed at the Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, according to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas S. Fennelly, of the Prosecutor’s Homicide Unit.
At this time, these incidents do not appear to be related according to Fennelly.
Both incidents are being investigated by the Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Task Force and the investigation is active an ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Prosecutor's Tips Line at (877) 847-7432.