newjerseynewsroom.com

BY JOE TYRRELL

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

It seemed like the coldest of cases.

Almost 20 years ago, a cleaning woman found the body of a teen-aged girl shortly after noon in an Edison motel room.

Nikki Adams, 15, of New Brunswick, had been brutally attacked and repeatedly stabbed, authorities said of the Oct. 3, 1980, murder. She was pronounced dead at the scene, then known as the Colonial Motel on Route 1. But the investigation stalled.

The news did not get any better. Almost six years later, in September 1996, Adams' mother Carolyn was shot and killed by a New Brunswick police officer who was attempting to arrest her for solicitation.

A Middlesex County grand jury cleared the officer, but many in the city did not buy the explanation that he feared for his life. The death and lack of prosecution sparked protests from residents.

Until now.

Middlesex County Proscutor Robert Kaplan announced the Aug. 25 arrest of Steven Parkey Jr., 40, of New Brunswick, following an "intensive" review of the slaying by Edison Detective John Canavera and Investigator Michael Daniewicz and Sgt. Eleazar Ricardo of the prosecutor's office.

Parkey, who lived in Highland Park at the time of the homicide, came under scrutiny again through a routine review of past cases where no arrests have been made, according to a statement released by Kaplan.

Superior Court Judge Bradley Ferencz set Parkey's bail at $2 million, with no 10 percent cash option, meaning he must pay the full amount.

Authorities are asking anyone with information in the case or knowledge of Parkey to call Detective Canavera of the Edison Police Department at (732) 248-7528, or Investigator Daniewicz at (732) 745-4018, or Sgt. Ricardo at (732) 745-8893.

Joe Tyrrell may be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it