Neighbor's doorbell camera caught woman's grisly murder

PATERSON, NJ – A neighbor’s NEST doorbell camera captured the murder of 44-year-old Latric Avery, of Paterson at the hands of the man she lived with.

Police said the woman pounded on her neighbor’s door screaming for help as Clarence Stokes moved in to kill her, stabbing her repeatedly with a knife. Her body was in the hallway and another body was found inside her apartment, that of Stanley Gunter, 67.

The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office issued the following statement:

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of CLARENCE STOKES (DOB: 12/24/1978; single; unemployed) of 415 E 26th Street, Paterson, NJ on charges of murder and weapons possession charges. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love and the Hackensack Police Department under the direction of Officer in Charge Captain Darrin DeWitt.

On Wednesday, August 25, 2021, at approximately 8:03 p.m., the Hackensack Police Department received a 911 call reporting a dispute at 95 Fairmount Avenue. Upon their arrival in the area, officers found CLARENCE STOKES walking down the street with blood on his clothing and he was taken into custody.

Officers then discovered 44-year-old Latric S. Avery, a resident of 95 Fairmount Avenue, 2nd floor, on the porch of that residence with multiple stab wounds. She was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center where she was pronounced deceased. Officers also found 67-year-old Stanley R. Gunter, also of 95 Fairmount Avenue, 2nd floor, deceased on the floor in the living room.

An investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Hackensack Police Department revealed that CLARENCE STOKES murdered Avery and Gunter with a knife.

On Thursday, August 26, 2021, CLARENCE STOKES was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(2); one count of third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4d; and one count of fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5d. He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, NJ.

Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and he would like to thank the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office and the Hackensack Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.