Two Sisters Found Dead In Guyanese Owned Restaurant In New Jersey

Authorities on Wednesday said two sisters were found dead at a Union County restaurant, a day after the eatery’s co-owner was found fatally shot nearby.

The homicides of the women and the shooting death of the eatery’s co-owner, 45-year-old Akanni A. Martin, are connected, according to acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo.

Police on Monday morning found Martin shot in the head in a vehicle parked behind a rental car business in the 1700 block of Morris Avenue in Union Township, Ruotolo said.

“A weapon was recovered near his body,” the prosecutor said in a statement. “Investigators do not believe foul play was involved.” The prosecutor did not immediately release more details about Martin’s death.

Detectives went to Martin’s Hillside home to inform his relatives, according to Ruotolo.

“After further investigation, detectives determined two individuals close to Martin were missing,” the prosecutor added.

K&K Jamaican restaurant opened in 2018 and quickly built a following, the name was taken from the first initials of Martin, also known as Kenneth, and the restaurant co-owner, his Guyanese common-law wife, Karen Lemaitre.

The couple had been together for 19 years and had three children together. Martin’s body was found in a car in a parking lot about two miles from the restaurant.

According to reports, Martin died from a gunshot wound, both women were also shot and were reportedly found with plastic bags over their faces.

Martin and Lemaitre lived across the street from the restaurant. The police have not yet established a motive for the killings.