'God Told Me To Do It:' Man Kills 81-Year-Old Grandfather With An Ax

A man in Bergen County, New Jersey, allegedly killed his 81-year-old grandfather because "God told (him)" to do so, police documents showed.

Jason Vicari, of Wyckoff, is facing multiple charges over the death of his grandfather, Ronald Vicari, NJ.com reported. The 21-year-old was taken into custody at his grandfather's home on Beechwood Avenue in Elmwood Park at around 10:20 a.m. Tuesday, according to the outlet.

A relative of the two men called 911 at approximately 9:30 a.m. that day and told authorities Jason had a handgun and barricaded himself inside Ronald's home. Meanwhile, Ronald was unconscious while lying in the bathroom with a wound to his head, the relative claimed. The window in the bathroom was also broken, police said in the report.

Members of the Elmwood Park Police Department and the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team responded to the call and arrived at the residence later that day. Jason agreed to come outside and was taken into custody just after 10:20 a.m., police said.

Officers asked Jason if there was anyone else inside the home prior to entering the premises, to which the 21-year-old replied, "Not anyone alive."

Without being questioned or provoked, Jason said "God told me to do it" 10 minutes later, according to polic.

Authorities entered the home and discovered Ronald dead with a head wound. An ax head, which investigators claimed was used to strike Ronald, was located next to the elderly man's body.

Officers also found the handle for the ax inside the premises.

Jason was taken to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, where investigators noticed blood on his clothing. He mentioned "God" again during an interview with detectives.

"Mr. Jason Vicari uttered that he believed his grandfather was a monster and that God told him he would have to change his religion," a portion of the arrest report read.

An investigation indicated that Jason allegedly killed his grandfather while he burglarized the elderly man's home, NBC 4 New York reported, citing prosecutors.

Jason was charged with first-degree felony murder, burglary and weapon possession, according to the outlet. He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending an initial court appearance in Hackensack.

Ronald, a lifelong resident of East Paterson, which later became Elmwood Park, served for more than three decades on the city's planning board, as per NJ.com.