Melissa Stasko, a 49-year-old woman, was found dead on December 25, 2015, in her Edgewater, New Jersey, apartment in a tragic murder-suicide. The discovery was made after concerned relatives in Missouri contacted police when the family failed to arrive for Christmas celebrations. Authorities entered the family's residence at the Windsor at Mariners Tower, a luxury high-rise building, to find a grim scene.
Inside the apartment, investigators found the bodies of Melissa, her 53-year-old husband Michael Stasko, and their 8-year-old daughter, Mellie. It was determined that Michael Stasko had shot and killed his wife and daughter before turning the gun on himself. Melissa and her daughter were found in their beds, having been shot in the back of their heads, likely while they were sleeping. The weapon, a. 45-caliber handgun with hollow-point bullets, was recovered at the scene.
The motive for the killings remained unclear to investigators.
Friends and family were shocked by the event, and there were no immediate indications of financial or legal troubles that might have precipitated such a tragedy. The family's apartment was described as well-kept, with Christmas presents neatly arranged under the tree, presenting a peaceful facade that belied the violence that had occurred. Michael Stasko, who worked as a watch salesman from a home office, was identified as the sole suspect in the deaths of his wife and daughter.
