Bergenfield man arraigned in girlfriend's slaying

Kaitlyn Kanzler
NorthJersey

HACKENSACK — Raphael Lolos had his first court appearance Wednesday on murder charges in the death and dismemberment of his girlfriend, Jenny Londono of Edgewater.

Raphael Lolos, with his attorney, Brian Neary, appeared before Judge Margaret Foti for his arraignment in state Superior Court in Hackensack on Wednesday.

While the proceedings did not provide many new details about the circumstances surrounding Londono’s death, Assistant District Attorney Demetra Maurice revealed while reading the charges that Lolos had stalked Londono before her slaying.

Maurice said that between June 13 and 25, Lolos did “engage in a course of conduct directed at Jenny Londono that would cause a reasonable person to fear for her safety … or to suffer other emotional distress.”

Lolos, 40, of Bergenfield, appeared in Superior Court in Bergen County, where he was formally charged with murder, desecration of human remains, hindering apprehension, using a stolen credit card and stalking. He did not enter a plea.

Judge Margaret Foti informed him of his rights, the charges filed against him and their punishments and how everything would proceed from there. Lolos will be appearing in court for a detention hearing on Monday at 9 a.m.

Members of Londono's family, seated on the right side of the courtroom, began crying as Lolos was led into the room in chains and an orange jumpsuit. Lolos was represented by defense attorney Brian Neary.

Court records show that Lolos was convicted in Bergen County in April 2005 of disorderly conduct.

After she was missing since June 25, Londono's dismembered remains were found floating in the river near the Red Hook Channel in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn, authorities said. On June 28, authorities released a photo of a tattoo with Sanskrit letters that was just below the right hip, which several friends said was similar to one Londono had.

The NYPD released a photo of a tattoo that was on the body of a woman found in June.

On July 1, New York City police found additional remains, a partial left leg and foot, in the Hudson River, authorities said. Londono was later identified.

Lolos was arrested last Thursday at a motel in Linden. Authorities said he had been using Londono's credit cards.

Londono was part of the opening of Luna Lounge in Englewood last month, and a makeshift memorial popped up on the stairs of the bar after her disappearance.