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EliMantel  - 20 Nov 2004 This article is reproduced here without permission under the fair use doctrine. Originally published at http://www.wndu.com/news/062004/news_35772.php
Copyright © 1997-2004 IN Jersey.

An 18-year-old Chicago man is facing murder charges in the death of a New Jersey grandmother. NewsCenter 16 has learned the suspect in the case was employed by a Michigan City magazine company.

Seventy-seven year-old Shirley Reuter was found beaten and stabbed on the floor of her suburban New Jersey home. On Monday, 18-year-old Azriel Rashad Bridge from Chicago was arraigned in court and charged with her murder.

Police say last Wednesday Bridge was going door to door in the victim’s neighborhood selling magazine subscriptions. He allegedly went to Reuter’s home twice: once for a drink of water and the next time to use her bathroom.

She was found dead the following day.

According to officials, at this point it is unclear if it is a robbery gone bad or if the murder was premeditated.

Michael Mastronardy with the New Jersey Police says, “There're several different scenarios that could have happened inside there. At this point in time only two people know and one of them is no longer with us."

Acting on tips from the public, New Jersey authorities located the suspect and his vehicle at a hotel near the airport Sunday night. They say they found knives and a fireplace poker in his possession and he still had the woman's checkbook.

Ties to Michigan City

Bridges works for an Indiana corporation, Phoenix Imagery, that is loosely based in Michigan City. Furthermore, Phoenix Imagery apparently contracted with another Michigan City firm, American Community Services, to process subscription orders.

Michael Bergerson, attorney for American Community Services, says, “Companies like American Community Services, and there are several in the country that do clear magazine subscriptions, would not exist without direct sellers of magazines going door to door. However there's been discussion regarding the need for background checks and we try to encourage district sellers of magazines to obtain background checks if they feel it's needed. We cannot demand that.”

Phoenix Imagery's Articles of Incorporation lists a Michigan City address but that turned out to be the offices of Attorney Bergerson who says he was hired to file the paperwork.

Sources say that Phoenix Imagery apparently has no home base to speak of, but operates all across the country out in the field.

Bridges is also charged with robbery and is being held on a $500,000 bond

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