Ray Cooley, 25, of Nutley, was indicted on Nov. 13 on charges related to the death of William Fitzsimmons
Ray Cooley NEWARK -- A Nutley man has been indicted on murder, robbery and related offenses for allegedly killing an 85-year-old Belleville man during a home invasion attack in May.
Ray Cooley, 25, was indicted on Nov. 13 on charges related to the death of William Fitzsimmons. In addition to murder and robbery, Cooley was charged with felony murder, kidnapping, burglary, theft and possession of cocaine, court records show.
Cooley remains in custody at the Essex County Correctional Facility in lieu of $750,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges on Dec. 14 before Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler.
Cooley is accused of breaking into Fitzsimmons's township home on May 16 and assaulting him during a robbery. Fitzsimmons died from his injuries about two weeks later.
Authorities have said an investigation by the county medical examiner's office determined that Fitzsimmons died as a result of blunt force trauma.
MORE: 85-year-old Belleville man succumbs to home invasion assault injuries, authorities say
According to a NorthJersey.com report, two passers-by discovered Fitzsimmons outside his Cedar Hill Avenue home on the morning of May 17 with his face was bloody, bruised and swollen. The passers-by contacted Belleville police, the report states.
Fitzsimmons, who lived alone, later told police he had gone downstairs at about 7 p.m. the night before to answer a knock on his front door, the report states. Fitzsimmons was then struck from behind inside the home and knocked unconscious, according to the report.
After regaining consciousness the following morning, Fitzsimmons went outside and was found by the passers-by, the report states.
The report states that, during the incident, Cooley allegedly disabled Fitzsimmons's phones and bound his hands with household materials before ultimately cutting him loose. During the break-in, the house was ransacked, and costume jewelry was allegedly stolen, the report states.
Township police believed Cooley entered the house through an unlocked door, the report states.
Cooley has allegedly admitted to his involvement in the incident and also said he had previously shoveled snow at Fitzsimmons's house, the report states.
A resident of Belleville for more than 60 years, Fitzsimmons had been a manager with Wakefern Food Corporation in Secaucus, before retiring, and he previously worked for Breyer's Ice Cream in Newark, according to his obituary. He also was a retired Army National Guard captain, the obituary states.
Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
