Ray Cooley, 25, is facing murder, robbery and related charges in the death of William Fitzsimmons
NEWARK -- A 25-year-old man pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of killing an 85-year-old Belleville man during a home invasion robbery earlier this year.
Ray Cooley, of Nutley, entered the plea through his attorney when he was arraigned before Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler on murder, robbery and related charges in the death of William Fitzsimmons.
His attorney, Elayna Thompson, told the judge she had received evidence in the case, but she was still waiting to receive an incident report and an autopsy report.
Cooley is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 25.
Cooley is accused of killing Fitzsimmons while he was released on probation in an unrelated robbery case, court records show. In that case, Cooley pleaded guilty to a theft charge in 2013, and he was later sentenced to three years of probation, court records show.
After he was arrested in Fitzsimmons's death, Cooley was charged with violating the terms of his probationary sentence, court records show.
The probationary term was ultimately revoked and he was sentenced on Friday to a three-year state prison sentence, court records show. Additional details on the earlier robbery case were not immediately available.
In Fitzsimmons's killing, Cooley was indicted on Nov. 13 on murder, felony murder, robbery, kidnapping, burglary, theft and possession of cocaine, court records show.
Authorities have said Cooley broke into Fitzsimmons's township home on May 16 and assaulted him during a robbery. Fitzsimmons died from his injuries about two weeks later.
An investigation by the county medical examiner's office determined that Fitzsimmons died as a result of blunt force trauma, authorities have said.
According to a NorthJersey.com report, Cooley allegedly disabled Fitzsimmons's phones and bound his hands with household materials before ultimately cutting him loose. During the burglary, the house was ransacked, and costume jewelry was allegedly stolen, 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.
Fitzsimmons - who lived in Belleville for more than 60 years - 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.