East Hanover Resident Sentenced to 15 Years for the 2020 Killing of His Wife

Morris County officials confirm the sentencing following a guilty plea for aggravated manslaughter.

Alexander Jacobs, a 79-year-old man from East Hanover, has been sentenced to 15 years in New Jersey State Prison for the 2020 death of his wife, Lilia Jacobs. The sentence, handed down by the Honorable Stephen Taylor on July 12, 2024, falls under the No Early Release Act (NERA), ensuring Jacobs serves the majority of his term.

The incident dates back to March 26, 2020, when East Hanover Township Police responded to a distress call at the couple's home on Selmar Terrace. Officers arrived to find Jacobs outside the residence, who reported a domestic dispute involving a firearm. The investigation that followed revealed that Jacobs had fatally shot his wife in the head with a .380 Beretta.

This case reached its conclusion when Jacobs entered a guilty plea to first-degree aggravated manslaughter before Judge Taylor on May 31, 2024. Having remained in custody since the incident, the sentencing marks the end of a lengthy judicial process.

Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, alongside Chief of Detectives Robert McNally and East Hanover Police Chief Christopher Cannizzo, extended their gratitude to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the East Hanover Township Police Department, and the Morris County Sheriff’s Office – Crime Scene Investigations Unit for their roles in the successful resolution of this case.