Accused Killer's Home Caught Boro's Eye Years Ago

Danny Cole, the Mount Arlington man accused of , told investigators a lot of things that are in dispute, according to police records. Among them: He knew Peter Schneider for 10 years.

An affidavit describing the investigation that lead to Cole's arrest in July didn't make it immediately clear who Peter Schneider was, or what relationship he might have to Cole.  But Peter Schneider owns the Mountainview Avenue home where Cole lived, and where police say he kept several items taken from the woman.

It's at that home, police said, Cole first identified himself to investigators as "Dan Schneider."

Anita Schneider tells a very different story.

“We didn’t know anything about him. He just had a room here. He was renting an apartment,” said Schneider, who also lives at the Mountainview Avenue home. Repeated calls to Peter Schneider were not answered.

Police allege Cole killed fellow Mount Arlington resident Barbara Wilson and stole several items from her home, then lied repeatedly to investigators as they questioned people in the area. He was first arrested shortly after Wilson's February death on a charge of giving a false name. Murder and robbery charges were filed in July.

“I remember it was Super Bowl Sunday, and the police came to my door asking if I’d seen anyone,” neighbor Bob Machnik said. “I told them about this guy who was new to the area. I thought he looked a little strange, so I told the police, and then I didn’t think any more of it—until now.”

But the home itself came under scrutiny from neighbors and local officials long before Cole's arrest.

The affidavit, signed by Lt. Stephen Wilson of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, had described the home where Cole lived as a group home, though it didn't specify of what type. Anita Schneider said that's no longer the case, and Cole was the only tenant living there. Minutes from Mt. Arlington land use meetings in 2006—when Peter Schneider was seeking permission to have the home classified as a single-family dwelling—suggest Peter Schneider had voluntarily relinquished a license to operate the property as a health care facility.

“About three or four years ago, we went to a meeting with the town to try and get something done about that house,” said Kelly Katz, who lives across the street from the home where Cole was staying. “We weren’t sure of exactly what was going on, just that people from that house were roaming the streets at all hours of the day and night. The town didn't do anything to help us, and we’re not sure what else we can do.”

Mt. Arlington Mayor Arthur Ondish said that in response to concerns from neighbors and authorities alike, the borough tried to have the home condemned.

"There were many structural problems with it. It didn't seem appropriate for the area," Ondish said. "The fire department often complained about it. But the judge threw our complaint out of court."

The Schneiders did not return further calls seeking response to the statements by Ondish and the neighbors.