Patricia Novak, a 76-year-old woman, was accidentally shot to death by her 82-year-old spouse, Robert Novak, in their New Jersey residence last Friday, April 5. The couple had been married for 57 years.
According to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone, local authorities in Edison, New Jersey, were alerted to the accident at the couple’s home on Glencourt Avenue after a 911 call was made at around 2:09 p.m. Patricia Novak was found with a gunshot wound upon the arrival of the responding officers. She was rushed to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick where she was later pronounced dead.
The ensuing investigation, headed by Detective Christian Paone from Edison and Detective Jose Rosario from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, revealed that the incident occurred when Robert Novak was attempting to unload a registered firearm in a room on the first floor of their home. The gun unexpectedly discharged and the bullet went through the floor, striking his wife in the basement below.
Upon hearing his wife’s cries, Robert Novak rushed to the basement and immediately dialed 911 for assistance. He has been cooperative throughout the investigation, offering detailed accounts of the tragic incident to the detectives.
Authorities managed to recover the firearm at the scene of the accident.
As the investigation continues, both the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Edison Police Department are exploring the circumstances surrounding the incident. The news has left the community and the Novak family in mourning over the loss of Patricia Novak.
In a touching remembrance, Patricia Novak had shared an anniversary photo from a 2016 trip to Hawaii, referring to it as their “golden” anniversary.
Patricia’s obituary reveals that she was born and raised in Edison, NJ, and worked as a secretary. She met Robert on a blind date and they were married on September 24, 1966. They settled in Edison, where they raised their family. Patricia is survived by her husband Robert, their son and daughter, and their grandchildren.
