This AP story (thanks to BHall) contains more information about the New Jersey murders.
JERSEY CITY, N.J. “” A funeral procession for two parents and their two daughters found brutally slain in their home last week drew hundreds of mourners Monday and some in the crowd blamed the deaths on simmering religious tensions in the family’s native Egypt.
Services for 47-year-old Hossam Armanious, his 37-year-old wife, Amal Garas, and their two daughters were being held at the St. George & St. Shenouda Coptic Orthodox Church, a Christian congregation where the family was active.
As the procession of about 300 people made its way on foot through city streets to the church, Iman Garas, sister of the slain mother, ran up and pounded on each of the four caskets, screaming, “Oh my God. Oh my God. They’ve left me all alone.”
The family immigrated to the United States in 1997 from Egypt, where Coptic Christians generally live in peace with Muslims. But tensions between the religions there have flared and become violent in recent years.
After revelations over the weekend that Hossam Armanious was active on an Internet chat site devoted to Coptic Christianity, Monir Dowoud, president of the American Coptic Association, told 200 people outside the family’s church on Sunday that “Muslim terrorists” were responsible.
Local authorities downplayed the religious link and the regional head of the Coptic church cautioned against a rush to judgment. But friends of the slain family said Hossam Armanious received death threats two months ago after writing what were perceived as insults to Islam.
During the processional Monday, mourners held placards and pushed and shoved. Some shouted anti-Muslim slogans. One man ran alongside the procession screaming, “Islam is not a religion. Islam is not a religion.”…
Police have said that there were no signs of forced entry at the home, where the four bodies were found bound and gagged early Friday. Authorities said robbery remained a possible motive because no cash or jewelry were found in the home. Guy Gregory, first assistant Hudson County prosecutor, said the wallet of Hossam Armanious was found empty.
Officials and relatives have said that the family reported a burglary last year during which jewelry was stolen.
Autopsies showed the victims bled to death from puncture wounds to their heads, necks and bodies.