ESSEX FELLS

-- At the age of 91, Robert Nevius bravely fought two young attackers in his Essex Fells home on Wednesday before being beaten, stabbed and strangled, prosecutors said yesterday.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert Laurino said Nevius, a World War II veteran, put up a “fierce struggle” when he was attacked by a fill-in chauffeur, Reginald Anthony, 28, and a second man identified as Shaun Woodson, 24. The two men, both from East Orange, stole an undisclosed amount of jewelry, prosecutors said.

Previous coverage:

• Second suspect is charged in killing of 91-year-old Essex Fells man



• East Orange chauffeur is charged with killing 91-year-old Essex Fells man

• Man found dead in Essex Fells home could be first homicide in borough in more than 40 years



Essex Fells police chief Vincent Kulik, who described himself as a friend of Nevius, said he was not surprised by the fight he gave his attackers.

“For 91 years old, he was not frail,” Kulik said. “He probably looked like he was 60. His frame was that of a man in his late 40s.”

The attack occurred on Wednesday night, hours after Anthony had transported the victim’s wife, Janet, to the couple’s co-op apartment in New York City. Anthony, whose aunt was the Nevius’ regular chauffeur for 12 years, was arrested on Thursday at home. Woodson was arrested on Friday at home.

“It does appear to be a crime of opportunity,” Laurino said at the Essex County Veterans Courthouse. “One of the defendants happened to be the chauffeur that afternoon and knew (Nevius) was alone and therefore took advantage of that opportunity.”

Both suspects are being held in the Essex County Correctional Facility and are charged with murder, robbery and weapons offenses. Anthony is being held on $1 million bail, while Woodson is being held on $1.5 million bail. An arraignment is expected this week, according to Katherine Carter, spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Both face life in prison if convicted.

Laurino said Essex Fells police were summoned at 8:40 a.m. Thursday after friends and family were not able to contact Nevius. Nevius’ lifeless body was found with his hands and feet bound. Nevius also had a stab wound to the neck, although no weapon has been recovered. An autopsy determined he died of blunt force trauma and strangulation.

Although there were no signs of forced entry, the Nevius’ home had been ransacked. Laurino did not disclose the approximate value of the jewelry stolen but did say some of it had been recovered. Authorities are still investigating whether cash was taken from the home.

The death marked the first homicide in Essex Fells since 1969.

Kulik said Nevius, who went by his middle name of “Foster,” was involved in the landing operations of the Allied invasion of Normany in World War II.

He was also known to enjoy monthly lunch gatherings with other town retirees at various homes. Kulik spoke at one of these lunches earlier this year, sitting next to Nevius.

“He was a good man,” Kulik said. “We took this very, very personally.”

Nevius and his wife, Janet Dryden-Nevius, were known to be philanthropic. They contributed to the Cope Center in Montclair and raised money for various foundations.

Nevius was an executive for a marine engineering and electronics manufacturing firm in Chatham. He and his wife were members of the Essex Fells Country Club and appeared on Manhattan’s black-tie socialite circuit.

They also belonged to the Metropolitan Club, a venerable social institution that was founded by J.P. Morgan and boasts gilded ballrooms and sweeping views of Central Park.

Janet Dryden-Nevius has been a trustee of the New Jersey Historical Society, a member of the National Association of Scholars of Princeton and executive vice president of the United Nations Development Hospitality Committee.

Anthony had served as a driver for the Nevius family once before, Laurino said. Laurino did not disclose the name of their longtime chauffeur, but did say she cooperated in the investigation.

Anthony has served two separate state prison terms since 2004 and was released in 2008, according to state Department of Corrections records.

Anthony was also charged with aggravated assault on a police officer and several other offenses stemming from a 2003 incident when he and four others allegedly stole a car from an apartment complex and crashed it into a South Orange police cruiser.

Woodson was released from East Jersey State Prison in Rahway in January after serving a five-year sentence for robbery.