Friday, November 20, 2009

Stockel Murder-Suicide Investigation Now Closed; Family Devastated

By Aaron Boyd | 4 Comments

28 Cedar Trail, East Hampton, location of a mystifying Stockel murder-suicide early before the dawn on Monday, Aug. 18. Photo by Aaron Boyd

Lester E. Stockel

East Hampton - East Hampton Town Police found a man and woman mortally wounded at a residence on Cedar Trail Monday morning, Aug. 18, in what Suffolk County Police have deemed a murder-suicide.

East Hampton Village Police reportedly received three hang-up emergency phone calls from the residence at 28 Cedar Trail in East Hampton early Monday morning, which they reported to Town Police officials. The first two calls ended instantly upon pick-up, while a male voice was heard briefly reporting a shooting in the third call before the connection was reportedly cut short.

Police responded to the home at 5:52 a.m. and report discovering Lester E. Stockel, Jr., 64, shot dead by an apparent gunshot to the head. Georgina Stockel, 64, was found severely injured by a gunshot wound to the right temple. The motive for the apparent murder-suicide remains unclear.

Georgina Stockel
Headshots courtesy of
The Sun-Sentinal

According to Suffolk County Homicide Detective Lieutenant Jack Fitzpatrick, upon arriving at the scene East Hampton Town police forced entry through the rear door to find the couple lying in bed. Mrs. Stockel was found on the left side of the bed beneath the covers, unconscious yet still breathing. Mr. Stockel was found dead lying beside her atop the covers with a 9mm pistol in his hand.

Mr. Stockel was pronounced dead at the scene, while Mrs. Stockel reportedly died three hours later at 9:18 a.m. after being transported to Stony Brook University Medical Center. By mid-day the investigation was turned over to the Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad, who labeled the incident a murder-suicide.

The investigation was closed by Monday evening, according to Det. Fitzpatrick. The murder-suicide will not be considered an open criminal case, Fitzpatrick explained, since there are no living suspects. Without an open case, investigators cannot depose witnesses for testimony, which will leave the motive unclear for the foreseeable future.

Neither East Hampton Town Police nor Suffolk County Police have any prior incidents on record concerning either of the deceased.

Residents of Verona, NJ, Lester and Georgina Stockel have been weekend residents for the past 13 years. He was the co-founder of CashFlex, an international third party remittance processing service. They leave behind two adult sons, Lester Stockel, III, 40, of Bloomfield, NJ and Christopher Stockel, 28, who teaches at a private school in London.

The tragedy came as a startling surprise to the Stockel family. "We spoke to them a short time ago," Vera Stockel, 88, mother of Lester Stockel, Jr. stated. "We're devastated," she said of herself and her husband Lester Stockel, Sr., who live in Monroe Township, NJ, "We can't believe it happened and we can't understand why it happened."

Neighbors along Cedar Trail in East Hampton have expressed their surprise at the tragedy as the New Jersey couple have been weekend residents for some time, quietly enjoying their vacation estate.

Comments

ann matthews from reeders pa. says:
I remember Les and Georgiana from high school. Their love was an inspiration to all of us. My prayers and sympathy go out to their families.

Nancy Frohwein Espin from Reno, NV says:
My ex husband and I used to double date with Les and Georgie when we were in high school. Although I haven't seen them for many years I remember them with love and fondness......I see them still when they were young and so very much in love. We used to tell strangers that we (as couples) were married and Georgie wrote in my yearbook about that and hoped that one day we just wouldn't be fooling around. I believe with all my heart that that love continued until the last. I can't get them out of my mind and heart. My prayers and love to their sons. Your parents were so in love with each other. By today's standards we were poor back then, filled with hopes and ambitions.. our lives were simple when we were young, but oh so happy. I grieve with you. Love, Nan

Sundragon from Westport Point MA says:
I worked for Les and Georgie back in the mid nineties running their yacht. They were the nicest kindest folks I have ever worked for. (they attended my wedding). I do know the burden they carried by the death of their daughter, as I have lost a daughter as well. My heart goes out to Les jr and Chris.

devizz from woodbridge, nj says:
What a tragic end to a sad family history...I knew the Stockels when they lived in Woodbridge back in the mid 70s, and witnessed their grief when their 8 year old daughter was killed by a reckless driver. Young Lester had to deal with the loss of a sister, and now must grieve the loss of his parents. My heart goes out to this family!