Fundraiser Started For Bergen Man Charged In Parking Garage Death

HACKENSACK, NJ - A fundraiser is underway to get an attorney for a 21-year-old Maywood man arrested on manslaughter charges in the death of a woman whose body was found in a car parked in a Hackensack parking garage.

Michael Gaffney was taken into custody Saturday, several hours after Francis Victoria Garcia’s body was discovered in a Prospect Street parking garage, authorities said.

Further investigation revealed that Garcia was in the back seat of her car with Gaffney when she died and her death was caused by compression injuries to the neck, according to authorities.

An autopsy determined she died of compression injuries to the neck, authorities said.

Gaffney’s sister, Samantha, has since organized a GoFundMe campaign.

“We are raising money so that Mike gets fair representation in a world where the media is able to spin anything to match their agenda. Please donate so that Mike's legal expenses can be offset,” she wrote.

“My brother is a great 21 year old kid. ANYONE who knows him will say so. This tragic accident is awful for everyone involved and my heart goes out to everyone,” she also wrote.

As of Sunday evening – just six hours after the campaign was created - $5,260 has been raised towards its $20,000 goal.