'ISLAMIC HATE' EYED IN SLAYS By DOUGLAS MONTERO and STEFAN C. FRIEDMAN January 16, 2005 -- The father of a murdered New Jersey family was threatened for making anti-Muslim remarks online — and the gruesome quadruple slaying may have been the hateful retaliation, sources told The Post yesterday. Hossam Armanious, 47, who along with his wife and two daughters was found stabbed to death in his Jersey City home early Friday, would regularly debate religion in a Middle Eastern chat room, one source said. Armanious, an Egyptian Christian, was well known for expressing his Coptic beliefs and engaging in fiery back-and-forth with Muslims on the Web site paltalk.com. He "had the reputation for being one of the most outspoken Egyptian Christians," said the source, who had close ties to the family. The source, who had knowledge of the investigation, refused to specify the anti-Muslim statement. But he said cops told him they were looking into the exchanges as a possible motive. The married father of two had recently been threatened by Muslim members of the Web site, said a fellow Copt and store clerk who uses the chat room. "You'd better stop this bull---- or we are going to track you down like a chicken and kill you," was the threat, said the clerk, who was online at the time and saw the exchange. But Armanious refused to back down, according to two sources who use the Web site. Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy would neither confirm nor deny that cops and prosecutors were looking into the religion motive, saying only that "nothing is being ruled out." But a relative of the mayor who answered the phone at Healy's home said there was information the murders were "religion-related." "There are several theories we are looking into, but we are not commenting on any of them at this time," said Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Guy Gregory. Armanious' fervor apparently rubbed off on his daughter, Sylvia — who would have turned 16 yesterday. "She was very religious and very opinionated," said Jessica Cimino, 15, a fellow sophomore at Dickenson HS. A family member who viewed photos of the bloodbath said Sylvia seemed to have taken the most savage punishment. "When we saw the pictures, you could tell that they were hurt really, really bad in the face; especially Sylvia," said Milad Garas, the high-school sophomore's great-uncle. The heartless killer not only slit Sylvia's throat, but also sliced a huge gash in her chest and stabbed her in the wrist, where she had a tattoo of a Coptic cross. Also found murdered were the wife, Amal Garas, and the parents' other daughter, Monica. Fred Ayed, the deacon at St. George and St. Shenouda Church, where the deeply religious family attended services, said he's worried that the murders could have a ripple effect. "I am concerned for the safety of our community," said Ayed, who knew Hossam for 30 years. "People are scared because one family was slain like cows," said Moheb Ghabour, publisher of a local newspaper for the Coptic community. Osama Hassan, director of the Islamic Center of Jersey City, described the relationship between Copts and Muslims as cooperative if not friendly. "I think there might be people that can get into physical fights, but not to the point of murder," Hassan said. Both the deacon and uncle poured cold water on the theory that the family were the victims of a robbery gone wrong. "This is not a robbery, Ayed said. "We found all of the jewelry in the house. They didn't take anything." The FBI confirmed it has been called in to help with the case. Additional reporting by Heather Gilmore http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/38704.htm The Coptic Business Association of Jersey City is offering a $500,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the slayings. Funeral services will be held tomorrow for Hossam Armanious, his wife, Amal Garas, and their daughters Monica and Sylvia. Authorities say they're making inquiries on several theories, but are declining comment on a possible motive in the slayings. The family had immigrated from Egypt in 1997, and were active members of the Saint George and Saint Shenouda Coptic Orthodox Church, a Christian congregation. Family and friends plan to gather there tomorrow for a funeral Mass. Meanwhile, the community continues to mourn. Eyewitness News reporter Lucy Yang has the latest. Cynthia Cook brought a birthday balloon and flowers. Knowing all too painfully well that her friend did not live to see this--her 16th birthday. Cynthia Cook, victim's friend: "I'll remember her by her smile, and her laugh. She was the nicest person." Eyewitness News Video Instead of a cake and celebration for Sylvia Armanious, there are memorial candles and mourners, after she and her family were found slaughtered inside their Jersey City home. Emad Fahmy, victims' relative: "This is a very peaceful family. They have no enemies. They go to work, go to church every Sunday." Officials report 46-year-old Hossam Armanious, his 36-year-old wife Amal, and their two daughters, Sylvia and 8-year-old Monica, had all been gagged, and their throats slashed. Authorities made the chilling discovery yesterday, after worried relatives called the police because they could not reach the family. Tonight was to have been Sylvia's Sweet Sixteen. But instead of a birthday bash, relatives gathered at St. George's Coptic church to mourn. To pray. To plan for Monday's funeral. We're told the victims were Christians who fled Egypt because of religious persecution. They came to Jersey City where they found jobs, friends and a new life. What they did not find was safety. Images In The Ongoing Story Angelina Rusto, family friend: "Who knows how long it took them to die, how long they were in there crying. [It's] horrible." With no signs of forced entry or robbery, detectives suspect the victims may have known their killer. But at this moment, still no motive or suspect in this heartbreaking case. http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/wabc_011605_murderfamily.html http://www.nbc10.com/news/4083018/detail.html -------------- http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/38704.htm http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/wabc_011605_murderfamily.html http://www.nbc10.com/news/4083018/detail.html ------------------ A whole family of Coptic Christians who immigrated to the USA from Egypt to escape religious persecution from the evil Muslims recently all had their throats slit in New Jersey. http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/38704.htm http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/wabc_011605_murderfamily.html http://www.nbc10.com/news/4083018/detail.html
