No History Of Family Violence From Son Accused Of Killing Lacey Dad: Affidavit

LACEY, NJ — The Lacey man charged with murder in the death of his father had a long history of mental illness, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Patch.

Justin Donaldson, 36, was charged with murder on Sept. 8 after the death of his 67-year-old father, David Donaldson, in his Weehawken Avenue home, officials previously said.

Read More: Son Charged With Murder After Father's Death In Lacey Home: Prosecutor

Justin Donaldson struggled with mental health issues his entire life, a sibling told authorities, describing him as "paranoid schizophrenic" but not usually violent, the affidavit said.

He had been hospitalized on multiple occasions, according to the sibling, having last been removed from Trenton Psychiatric Hospital about a year prior to the dad’s killing, the affidavit said.

The affidavit described Justin Donaldson has having a "history of mental illness," which may include post traumatic stress disorder, depression or others, the document said.

Justin Donaldson was also previously charged with aggravated assault for hitting a cop in the head with a power saw, Patch reported in 2014.

Another sibling told authorities David Donaldson had confided during a trip for ice cream that Justin Donaldson hadn't been acting right and that Justin's medications had stopped being effective, the affidavit said.

That sibling told police Justin Donaldson had been prescribed many different medications and had been in and out of hospitals for years.

Justin Donaldson had lived with their father on and off for some time, and had never been violent with any family members, that sibling said, according to the affidavit.

On Sept. 7, after David Donaldson had not been to work in two days, a third sibling went to the home.

That sibling found David Donaldson's car in the driveway and a window that had been broken out from inside the house, the affidavit said.

When the sibling asked to see David Donaldson and threatened to call police, Justin Donaldson had a simple response:

"Call a coroner," he said.

The sibling asked Justin Donaldson if their father was responsive, and he responded that David Donaldson was not breathing and "in a coma," according to the affidavit. That was when the sibling called 911, the affidavit said.

Lacey police said Justin Donaldson repeatedly talked over them as they tried to read him his Miranda rights and claimed his father had attacked him and went into a coma after breaking his elbow, the affidavit said.

Justin Donaldson also refused to sign paperwork because he claimed to be "on drugs," the affidavit said.

When asked if he understood his rights, Justin Donaldson repeatedly said that he was "not interested," according to the affidavit.

Justin Donaldson, in addition to claiming the person might not be David Donaldson, told police he broke the man's elbow and "knocked him the f--- out," and that he left him on the floor for two days, breaking the front window to air out the house as his father's body began to decompose, the affidavit said.

Justin Donaldson also repeatedly asked if the coroner could come and revive the individual, according to the affidavit.

Police found a wooden, horse-shaped bottle opener on Justin Donaldson, the affidavit said.

This appeared "possibly consistent" with the father's injuries, as he had oval-shaped contusions on his neck, face and chest, according to the affidavit. David Donaldson also had defensive wounds on his right hand, and his left elbow was "likely dislocated," the affidavit said.

A search of the house revealed a note on a light switch in David Donaldson's bedroom that read "Call coroner recording playback" and a note in the mailbox that said "Help. Revive Dad my dad assault I broke his arm back He went into shock," according to the affidavit.

Justin Donaldson has been in Ocean County Jail since Sept. 7 and will remain detained pending trial.