Yurchak arrested

Hardyston - Hours after his release from a rehabilitation facility, James Yurchak, 45, was arrested for killing his wife. Dawn Yurchak died of a gunshot wound to the head on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at the couple’s home on Mountain Road in Hardyston Township. The Thursday, April 3 arrest resulted from an investigation by the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hardyston Township Police Department. The prosecutor’s office announced Yurchak, was charged with murder for purposely or knowingly causing the death of Dawn Yurchak. The specific charges are shooting the victim in the head with his .45 caliber Ruger handgun, a crime of the first degree. Yurchak was also charged with possession of a firearm with the purpose to use it unlawfully against the person of another, a crime of the second degree. The joint investigation found James Yurchak, after shooting his wife, turned the weapon on himself, inflicting a gunshot wound to his own head. He was treated at a hospital before being transferred to the rehabilitation facility. Yurchak was taken into custody on April 3 at 4:31 p.m. near the Yurchak home and the arrest was without incident. The arresting officer was Ptl. Bonfiglio of the Hardyston Township Police Department who was assisted by the Franklin Police Department. Yurchak was lodged in the Sussex County Jail in default of $500,000 bail set by Superior Court Judge Thomas J. Critchley, Jr. The charges result from an investigation by the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office and Detective Robert Zicarelli and the Hardyston Police Department Detective Bureau.