TO: ALL NEWS MEDIA
FROM: PROSECUTOR JOHN L. MOLINELLI
Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli announced today the arrest of 26 year old CHARLES J. ANN of 201 Bridge Plaza North, Fort Lee, New Jersey, for the murder of 25 year old Aena Hong, also of Fort Lee. The charges are the result of a joint investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit under the direction of Chief Steven Cucciniello and the Fort Lee Police Department under Chief Thomas Ripoli.
On Monday, February 20, 2012, at approximately 4:55 p.m., the Fort Lee Police Department received numerous 9-1-1 calls regarding a pedestrian struck at the intersection of Anderson Avenue and Inwood Terrace. The vehicle was observed by witnesses to flee the scene. Responding officers found Aena Hong in the roadway with grave injuries. She was transported to Holy Name Hospital where she was subsequently pronounced dead at 5:54 pm.
The ensuing investigation revealed that the driver of the vehicle which struck Ms. Hong, Charles ANN, a native of Korea who came to the United States in 2009, did so intentionally. Witnesses described Ms. Hong walking while arguing with the male driver, later identified as Charles ANN. Just before the incident, the vehicle was observed to drive away from Ms. Hong and turn around. As the victim was crossing the road, Charles ANN rapidly accelerated his motor vehicle, striking Ms. Hong. The investigation further revealed that after striking the victim, the driver, ANN, put the car in reverse and backed up over the victim and subsequently drove forward over the victim again. It is believed that ANN drove over Ms. Hong, going forward and backward approximately three times.
The investigation further revealed that Ms. Hong had a tumultuous dating relationship with Charles J. Ann, and was recently trying to end the relationship.
A 2011 Hyundai Sonata registered to Mr. ANN was found abandoned on Tenth Avenue in Fort Lee a few hours after the attack. Accident investigators with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit determined this was in fact the vehicle which struck and killed Ms. Hong.
After the assault on Ms. Hong and the abandonment of his vehicle, Charles ANN fled into Flushing, Queens, New York. He was subsequently located by investigators and arrested at 4:00 a.m. this morning at a friend’s apartment in Flushing, Queens, New York. The New York City Police Department assisted detectives in making the arrest. At the time of his arrest, Ann was found to be in possession of his passport and a large sum of cash. It is believed that he was attempting to flee the country. Although a naturalized citizen, Ann is a native of Korea and has ties to that country through relatives. Charles Ann is currently unemployed and had been dating the victim for approximately one year.
Charles J. ANN has been charged with 1st degree Murder. Bail was set at $3,000,000 with no 10% option by the Hon. Liliana S. DeAvila-Silebi. ANN is currently lodged in Queens Criminal Court pending an extradition hearing. An autopsy is planned for later today at the Bergen County Medical Examiner’s Office.
As with all defendants, Charles Ann is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Further, Prosecutor Molinelli would like to thank the Fort Lee and New York City Police Departments for their assistance in this investigation.
BERGEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
CHARGE INFORMATION FORM
DEFENDANT: Charles J. Ann DOB: 2-9-1986
LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: 201 Bridge Plaza North, 7F, Ft. Lee, NJ
MARITAL STATUS: Single
PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT: Unemployed – Student
PRESENT POSITION:
ARREST INFORMATION
DATE OF ARREST: Feb. 21, 2012
PLACE OF ARREST/TOWN: Queens NY
AGENCIES EFFECTING ARREST: BCPO, Ft. Lee Pd, NYPD
CHARGE AND STATUTE CITATIONS
MURDER- N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3A (1) (2).
ARRAIGNMENT INFORMATION
ARRAIGNMENT DATE: Pending Extradition from New York
JUDGE:
BAIL AMOUNT & CONDITIONS: 3,000,000.00
CHARLES ANN