Argument Spurred Morris Co. Man To Kill Mother, Court Docs Say

DENVILLE, NJ — Police asked Anthony Citro for his mother's whereabouts. With blood in his elbow and pants and his house on fire, the Denville man replied, "She's dead," according to court documents.

Once authorities arrived that May 17 morning, they found his house on fire with Eileen Citro's body inside. Anthony Citro faces several charges, including first-degree murder and second-degree aggravated arson.

Citro will have a detention hearing Thursday. Court documents that Patch obtained reveal details leading to the alleged murder.

The Denville man, who lived in the house he set on fire, told police at the scene that he and his mother got into an argument. When law enforcement asked Anthony Citro about the fire, he admitted he started it, according to the affidavit.

A neighbor called 911 that morning about the fire on 37 Chestnut Hill Dr. East. Upon arrival, Denville authorities found Anthony Citro on the front steps.

Officers saw smoke coming from the house and noticed butane fuel near Anthony Citro, according to the affidavit. They also found apparent blood on his elbow and pants, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said.

Firefighters found the body of Eileen Citro, 68, in the kitchen with multiple apparent stab wounds to her back and torso, according to court documents. Two bloody knives were near her body, the affidavit says. Authorities stated they found signs of a struggle in the kitchen area, including blood and broken household items.

Firefighters extinguished blazes in a bedroom on the first floor. The fire burned a bookcase, the bedroom walls and several items before it was extinguished.

Anthony Citro was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree aggravated arson, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.

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