Mental Illness Factor In Christmas Eve Slaying, NJ Family Says

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Family members of a Morris County man are speaking out after his death on Christmas Eve, and subsequent arrest of his son claiming mental illness played a part in the tragedy.

Officials in Morris County said that Boonton police officers were dispatched to a home on Old Denville Road in Boonton Township in response to an emergency call on Sunday, and when they arrived, they found 61-year-old Gregory Meyer dead.

Investigators determined his son, Kyle Meyer, 33, was a suspect, and he was detained in Paterson at around 9 p.m., Carroll said.

Meyer has been charged with murder and weapons violations. He is being held in the Morris County jail for a detention hearing.

At the moment, police believe that an axe and a battery-powered saw were used to kill Gregory.

Matthew Meyer, a relative of Gregory, has released a statement regarding Gregory's murder on a GoFundMe page, which was set up on Tuesday.

According to Matthew, Kyle had been suffering from mental illness, alcoholism, and abuse of drugs legal and illegal, for many years.

"In losing Greg on Christmas Eve, our family lost a son, brother, uncle, and father. Along with our extended family and friends, we are grieving the death of a man who brought music, laughter, and love to our lives," Matthew said.

The investigation into Gregory's death "remains active and ongoing," and investigators "are not seeking any additional suspects," Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll stated in a news release, adding that "there is no danger to the public."

The fundraiser for the Meyer family has raised about $1,780 as of 10:20 a.m. on Wednesday.

"We are grieved beyond words that Greg was taken from us by his own son...Our family is suddenly faced with many burdens from this unbearable tragedy... We appreciate your prayers, your well-wishes, and whatever assistance you may be able to share," Matthew wrote.

According to the family, the donations will be used to provide Gregory with a burial in the same cemetery where his father was buried, to cover all of the associated costs of a casket, funeral home, and transportation, and to provide future support for Gregory's 94-year-old mother, as well as other needs the family faces in this ongoing trauma.

"Thank you for all of your loving support, we are grateful for you. We ask all families to take mental illness and addiction seriously. God bless you," Matthew wrote.