An East Orange man charged with killing three people in Newark in one weekend now faces a 17-count in indictment. Watch video
NEWARK -- An East Orange man faces a 17-count indictment charging him with the murder of three people in Newark in a single weekend.
An Essex County grand jury indicted Jeffrey Holland, 27, in connection with the Jan. 29 strangulation of Tiniquah Rouse, 21, in her Newark home, and for placing Rouse's 5-month-old child inside a closet and leaving the child unattended, acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray said in a statement Wednesday.
Holland also faces indictments in the Jan. 30 break-in at the home of Ashley Jones, 23, and Jarrell Marshall, 28, a Newark couple that was gunned down just steps away from three children, ages 1, 3 and 4, Murray said.
Authorities said Holland strangled Rouse while she was in her bath tub and then placed the infant in the closet.
Authorities said Holland is the biological father of the 1-year-old and 4-year-old, and both were Jones' children. The 3-year-old is the daughter of Marshall and another woman, Murray said. The children were not physically harmed, officials said.
The indictment against Holland includes charges of felony murder, burglary, desecration of human remains, endangering the welfare of a child, hindering apprehension or prosecution, theft by unlawful taking, and weapons possession offenses, said Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Justin Edwab, who is handling the case.
Holland also faces a contempt charge because there was an active restraining order against, baring him from having contact with Jones, at the time of the murder, Murray said.
Authorities said Holland had prior romantic relationships with both Jones and Rouse.
Holland pleaded not guilty to the three killings in February. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on July 25 before Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler.
Tom Haydon may be reached at thaydon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Tom_HaydonSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.