Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Maplewood Police Chief Robert Cimino announced today that Dwayne Flourney, 26, of Maplewood has been arrested and charged with murdering his father and grandmother.
The victims are Sandra Flourney, 76, a retired school teacher, and Brian Flourney, 52, an investigator employed by the Union County Public Defender’s Office. Both lived at 5 Northview Terrace. The son lived there also.
Fire and law enforcement officials were dispatched to the Flourney home when Mr. Flourney (the father) did not show up for work and did not call. Employees of his office became concerned and called the Maplewood Police Department yesterday and suggested police make a welfare check on the home. Family members also contacted police and expressed their concern.
When authorities went to the house they discovered Mr. Flourney (the father) dead on the sun porch. The grandmother was discovered in the trunk of a vehicle in the garage of the home.
The preliminary investigation indicates that the son stabbed the grandmother on Saturday afternoon. When the father came home on Saturday, the son stabbed him as well. He then hid the bodies and invited his friends over for a party.
The defendant then slept at the house. The next day, Sunday, he then took his father’s car. With the help of the Phillipsburg Police Department, he was arrested last night at the home of a female friend.
The defendant — Dwayne Flourney — is being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility. In addition to be charged with two counts of murder, the defendant was also charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose and theft.
Bail was set at $1 million by the Honorable Peter J. Vazquez, J.S.C. The defendant is expected to be arraigned on Tuesday, March 20 before Judge Vazquez.
The investigation is active and ongoing. These are accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they plead guilty or are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Acting Prosecutor Murray commended members of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force, the Maplewood Police Department and our other law enforcement partners for the extraordinary investigative work done in the last 24 hours.
