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Stockel Murder-Suicide: More Questions Than Answers

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

News of the deaths of former Montclair residents Lester and Georgiana Stockel shocked Baristaville neighbors and friends. No one seems to have a clue why the couple, who lived a fairy-tale existence with multiple homes -- and in a seemingly perfect marriage -- could come to such a tragic ending. From The Star Ledger:

A longtime friend, Noel Brogan, said the Stockels had been "best friends."

"They were in, like, perfect sync with each other," said Brogan, who lived next to the Stockels in Montclair before the couple downsized, selling their house and moving to Verona eight years ago. "It doesn't make any sense. They didn't fight. They weren't at odds. They didn't have any financial problems."

"They lived their lives for each other, their children and their grandchildren," said Brogan, the friend and former neighbor in Montclair.

Brogan described Georgiana Stockel, known to friends as "Georgie," as a "bubbly, witty" woman with blue eyes and impeccable taste. The slain woman's clothing and jewelry, she said, were always the "crème de la crème."

Another longtime friend, Montclair resident George Turner, said the couple looked "terrific" when he saw them at his daughter's June wedding. The Stockels danced and laughed together, speaking of their upcoming trip to celebrate their wedding anniversary, Turner said.

"They never looked happier," Turner said. "It's baffling, completely."

Posted by Annette Batson on August 20, 2008 2:52 PM
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The neighbors NEVER know a thing.

Posted by profwilliams | August 20, 2008 3:24 PM
 

Prof-

Noel Brogan knows more about things of significance than anyone on this blog, or this town. In most cases, I would agree with you. Countless interviews with neighbors of a criminal say "he was always a nice kid, etc" But Noel knows the ins and outs of our community, and the upper echelon

Posted by jimmytown | August 20, 2008 4:19 PM
 

Was the gun registered?

Posted by MellonBrush | August 20, 2008 4:49 PM
 

Maybe they lived next door to Dannyboo and couldn't take the noise anymore.

Posted by doyouhaveanygreypoupon | August 20, 2008 5:07 PM
 

Montclair logic: They always had really nice clothes and were impeccably dressed. How could they possibly have a worry in the world?

Posted by mets2008 | August 20, 2008 5:13 PM
 

Greypoupon, Yep, that coulda done it.

Posted by Nellie | August 20, 2008 5:27 PM
 

LOL wow I have fans! :)

Isn't that a given in suburbia? Showing a completely different face to your neighbors than you show inside the privacy of your own home?

Posted by dannyboo | August 21, 2008 7:31 AM
 

Another neighbor was quoted in the Verona-Cedar Grove Times as saying that someonme must have been hiding in the house and killed them. This person said that Lester wouldd never do this.

Posted by Nellie | August 22, 2008 9:39 AM
 

Isn't it almost impossible to stage a murder-suicide? This case has been closed so won't be investigated. Extremely sad story.

Posted by Marian | August 23, 2008 12:39 PM
 

Isn't it almost impossible to stage a murder-suicide? This case has been closed so won't be investigated. Extremely sad story.

Posted by Marian | August 23, 2008 12:39 PM
 
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