Unsolved Crimes1990-1999Office of the Monmouth County Prosecutor

Smita Amin Patel | Hae Sook Lee | Missing Person | Sara Lefkopker

The case information below has been posted for the purpose of soliciting input from the general public in an effort to solve the listed crimes or further their investigation. Anyone with information concerning these matters is urged to contact the Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443 (toll free) or by submitting the information online: Online Tip Form.

3/22/96: Smita Amin Patel
Shortly before 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 22, 1996, 35 year old Tinton Falls Resident Smita Amin Patel was murdered inside her place of business, the Little Brown Jug. This business is a convenience/grocery store located at 2040 Highway 33, Neptune City in the Gables shopping center. The Gables shopping center is diagonally across the street from Jersey Shore Medical Center.

Investigation revealed that the victim and her husband were co-owners of this convenience store. The victim was working alone in the store, and between approximately 9:50 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. she was attacked by somebody in the store and stabbed multiple times. Some money was stolen during the course of the attack. The victim was discovered by a customer and police investigation commenced immediately.

Investigation thus far has failed to reveal any witnesses to this event. However, the Gables shopping center is a particularly busy strip mall and it is believed that there may be many citizens with knowledge as to this incident. The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Neptune City Police Department request the assistance of any citizen who was in the Gables shopping center on the date and time in question who may have seen anything which could be relevant to this investigation.

Anyone with information concerning this matter is asked to call the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at (800) 533-7443.

Anyone who feels the need to remain anonymous, but has information about a crime can contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers confidential telephone tip-line by calling (800) 671-4400; can text “MONMOUTH” plus their tip to 274637; or, they can email a tip via the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com. Monmouth County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of criminals and fugitives.

7/3/96: Hae Sook Lee
At approximately 11:15 a.m. on July 3, 1996, 37 year old Hae Sook Lee was found stabbed to death in her business, the A&J Sneaker Store, located at 43A Broad St., Red Bank.

Investigation of this matter revealed that the victim and her husband were co-owners of this retail footwear store, which is located in the heart of Red Bank’s downtown shopping district. On the morning of July 3rd, the victim was working alone in the store when she was attacked and stabbed to death. Her body was found in the back of the store by a store employee at approximately 11:15 a.m. Robbery may have been the motive for the attack.

July 3, 1996, was the date of Red Bank’s Independence Day celebration, which was marked by a fireworks display in the evening. During much of the day the downtown area was congested with shoppers, store owners, delivery men and those who arrived early for that evening’s festivities. It is very likely that many people were in the vicinity of the A&J Sneaker Store, or even possibly in the store to shop or browse, between 10:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. on this date. These individuals may have information concerning this matter that could prove useful to the police.

Anyone with information concerning the death of Hae Sook Lee, or who may have been in or around the A&J Sneaker Store on the morning of July 3, 1996, is urged to call the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit (800) 533-7443 or the Red Bank Police Department at (732) 530-2700.

1/20/97: Missing Persons/Robin Trivisonno
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Robin Trivisonno, a 28 year old mother of three, has been missing since January 20, 1997. She was last seen leaving the Heartbreakers Go-Go bar on Route 35 in Neptune Township at approximately 2:00 am on that date with a white male. This man has been described as well groomed with long dark-brown flowing hair, 5’8″ tall and weighing approximately 180 lbs. Ms. Trivisonno’s vehicle, a 1994 black Jeep Cherokee, was left parked in the parking lot. She is reported to have been wearing a brown waist coat when last seen.

Ms. Trivisonno is 5’2″ tall, weighs 105 lbs., has brown hair, hazel eyes and a scar on her right eyelid. She is a resident of Ventnor, Atlantic County.

Anyone with information concerning Ms. Trivisonno’s whereabouts or her disappearance is urged to call the the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 732/ 431-7012 or 1 800/ 533-7443 (toll free) or the Neptune Township Police Department at 732/ 988-8000.

6/18/97: Sara Lepkofker
On June 18, 1997, four young children discovered a partially decomposed body at an abandoned Sewage Pump house located at 105 Locust Avenue in Red Bank. After a post-mortem examination, it was determined that the death was a Homicide and that the victim had been decapitated, right and left legs had been amputated as had the tips of the fingers on both hands. As a result of the condition of the body, no identification could be made.

In January 2008, a detective from the New York Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit advised that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s laboratory had identified the victim as Sara Lepkofker, with last known address of 2780 West 5th Street, Unit 16-F, Brooklyn, New York. According to the New York Police Department, Sara Lepkofker was last seen alive on May 8, 1997, leaving her place of employment. She was scheduled to go on a two week vacation with her live in boyfriend, John Luttrell.

Anyone with information concerning this matter is asked to call the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at (800) 533-7443 or the Atlantic Highlands Police Department at (732) 291-1212.

Office of the Monmouth County Prosecutor

Raymond S. Santiago

Monmouth County Prosecutor

Unsolved Crimes
1990-1999