Photo: Essex County Jail
Hudson County corrections officer John Menendez was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly murdering best friends Anna Shpilberg and Luiza Shinkarevskaya.
The Essex County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
On Tuesday, the women were found in the Newark, New Jersey area with apparent gunshot wounds. They were pronounced dead on the scene, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and Newark Public Safety Department said in astatement.
Menendez and Shpilberg are suspected of having a “romantic relationship,” according to the statement.
The Hudson County corrections officer allegedly admitted to killing both women when he was arrested.
One officer wrote in the affidavit that the suspect said “he lost it and killed them.”
Menendez was reportedly supposed to pick up best friends Shpilberg and Shinkarevskaya from the airport after a vacation, according to the affidavit.
“[The witness] said Menendez was upset about his girlfriend going on vacation,” police added in the court papers.
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Police wrote in the affidavit, “[Menendez] again said he ‘killed her and her friend.’ When the officer asked where she was, Menendez said she was in the car,” according to theNew York Post.
Shpilberg and Shinkarevskaya were both living in Brooklyn after coming to the U.S. from the Ukraine, according toNJ.com.
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“We were on a break,” Goni said. “She met this younger guy, but I still had her stuff in my house. I wanted her back. I’m still in love with her.”
Goni and Shpilberg remained in touch for a while, but he described Menendez as “controlling” when they did speak. “He wanted texts and videos as proof of where she was,” he claimed.
No bond has been set as of Friday. It is not immediately clear if Menendez has retained legal representation or has entered a plea at this time.
AGoFundMepage has been set up to aid the family of Shinkarevskaya with memorial and funeral expenses.
AGoFundMepage has also been set up to aid Shpilberg’s teenage son.
source: people.com
