A Union City man previously arrested for assaulting a car burglar is now facing a charge of manslaughter following the findings of the medical examiner.
According to Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez, Robert Stevens, 40, has been charged with manslaughter in the death of Anthony Passero, 51, of Bayonne.
On the morning of August 2, Stevens allegedly punched Passero and knocked him to the ground. Stevens had approached Pasero who was attempting to break into Steven’s Jeep near 239 Bergen Ave. Stevens then got into the Jeep and drove away as the severely wounded Passero lay on the ground.
Passero was taken to Jersey City Medical Center with life threatening head injuries and died a short time later. Stevens was arrested two days later and charged with Aggravated Assault and Endangering an Injured Victim.
On August 8, the medical examiner determined that Passero had died of blunt force trauma to the head and ruled the death a homicide. Stevens has now been charged with Manslaughter.
Stevens is being held at the Hudson County Correctional Facility and made his first appearance on the upgraded charge on today.
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit and Jersey City Police Department are actively investigating this case and are asking anyone with information to contact the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor at 201-915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip here. All information will be kept confidential.
Note: A previous version of this article incorrectly identified Pasero as the aggressor.