Cheating NJ husband with ‘long-simmering hatred’ for his wife killed her with a barbell: cops

Nypost · 🇺🇸 public United States · Jun 03, 2026 · 372 words · By Patrick Reilly

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What to know about Domestic violence

Cheating NJ husband with ‘long-simmering hatred’ for his wife killed her with a barbell: cops See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 11

Techniques found 1

Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center67%

Right33%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Cheating NJ husband with ‘long-simmering hatred’ for his wife killed her with a barbell: cops See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The New York Post on GoogleA cheating New Jersey husband allegedly killed his wife of almost 40 years with a barbell — then emailed their kids to blame it on his “long-simmering ‘hatred’” for her, according to police.

Common ground

Kless, 67, allegedly killed Stacy Epstein-Kless, 66, in their Ocean Township home late last month, where she was later found in the basement with the heavy metal weightlifting bar over her throat and neck, according to an arrest affidavit on a first-degree…

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Domestic violence story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that In his message, he “indicated a long simmering ‘hatred’” for his wife, and said he had been having an intimate relationship with a Central American woman?
How does this story connect Domestic violence with criminal justice over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/06/03/us-news/cheating-nj-husband-with-long-simmering-ha…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 11 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 7

info Single Source 1

schedule Pending 1

verified Verified By Reference 1

help Insufficient Evidence 1

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Claim 1: “In his message, he “indicated a long simmering ‘hatred’” for his wife, and said he had been having an intimate relationship with a Central American woman”

CORROBORATED

The 'long simmering hatred' is explicitly mentioned in multiple news reports (The Mirror US, Ocean Township reports).

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Hands Off protests were a series of demonstrations launched across the United States on April 5, 2025, in the largest one-day, nationwide display of public resistance against the second administra…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hands_Off_protests

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr. (born December 23, 1962) is an American politician and lawyer who has served as the attorney general of Texas since 2015. A member of the Republican Party, he is the Republic…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Paxton

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The list of University of Houston people includes notable alumni, former students, and faculty of the University of Houston. Class years usually indicate the year of a graduation unless an entry is de…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_University_of_Houston_…

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 2: “Michael A. Kless, 67, allegedly killed Stacy Epstein-Kless, 66, in their Ocean Township home late last month”

CORROBORATED

Multiple news reports confirm Michael Kless (67) is charged with the murder of Stacy Epstein-Kless (66) in Ocean Township.

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travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jun 3, 2026 ... Michael Kless, 67, charged with murder in the May 27 slaying of his wife, Stacy Epstein-Kless, was ordered detained pending the outcome of ...
https://www.facebook.com/asburyparkpress/posts/michael-kless…

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web search NEUTRAL — May 29, 2026 ... Michael Kless said he felt a "long-simmering hatred" for his wife, who he is accused of murdering on May 27.
https://patch.com/new-jersey/longbranch/man-killed-wife-barb…

+ 1 more evidence source

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Claim 3: “A cheating New Jersey husband allegedly killed his wife of almost 40 years with a barbell”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent news sources (nj.com, and other web results) report that Michael A. Kless is accused of killing his wife with a barbell.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — A man charged with killing his wife with a barbell in Ocean Township last week pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Monmouth County Superior Court. Michael A. Kless, 67, appeared at the Monmouth County Cou…
https://www.nj.com/monmouth/2026/06/nj-man-charged-with-kill…

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web search NEUTRAL — Michael A. Kless, 67, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his wife, 66-year-old Stacy E. Kless, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced last Friday.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/jersey-man-accused-ki…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Michael A. Kless is accused of killing his wife, Stacy Epstein-Kless, with a barbell before emailing his children and indicating a 'long simmering hatred' for her. News. Reanna Smith US Reporter.
https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/cheating-husband-send…

info

Claim 4: “she was later found in the basement with the heavy metal weightlifting bar over her throat and neck”

SINGLE SOURCE

While the death by barbell is corroborated, the specific detail about the bar being 'over her throat and neck' in the basement is not explicitly detailed in the provided evidence snippets, although the general event is reported.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Sep 19, 2019 · Stacy and Dad - favorite children's stories about slime, toys and pretend play. Subscribe to Like Nastya Vlog - https://is.gd/gdv8uX...more
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r-srHFdGRLA

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Stacy, sometimes spelled Stacey, Staci, Stacie, or Stacii, is a common first name for women and men. It is also sometimes used as a surname. Baby-naming guides cite two English derivations of Greek or…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stacy_(given_name)

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Stacy competed against thirteen other contestants to win Season 6 of Akademi Fantasia. The judging panel often praised her for being consistent, which implied she was a front-runner of the season. Ram…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stacy_(Malaysian_singer)

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Claim 5: “He was found unconscious by police and was hospitalized in critical condition”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources report Kless was found unconscious at a Parkway rest stop and hospitalized in critical condition.

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web search NEUTRAL — Jun 4, 2026 ... A man is commanded by GOD to love his wife. The long term simmering hatred is what is confusing to me. If you hate someone that much, ...
https://www.facebook.com/NJ.com/posts/officers-found-stacy-k…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — May 29, 2026 ... ... hospitalized in critical condition. (That may lend some credibility to initial reports from neighbors that this was a murder suicide) He was ...
https://www.instagram.com/p/DY7w2Ibggen/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jun 4, 2026 ... She is dead and cannot defend herself, welcome to law. So if she did try to get he help because if the person is not physically could at in ...
https://www.facebook.com/nj1015/posts/michael-kless-says-he-…

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Claim 6: “He then contacted his daughter and said he was at a rest stop in Sayreville trying to overdose on medication”

CORROBORATED

Web search results confirm Kless contacted someone stating he was at a rest stop attempting to overdose on medication.

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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 24, 2026 · Michael: Directed by Antoine Fuqua. With Jaafar Jackson, Nia Long, Colman Domingo, Juliano Valdi. The early life of musician Michael Jackson, from the discovery of his talent as the lea…
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt11378946/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Michael is a 2026 biographical film directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan. It follows the early life of the American singer Michael Jackson, covering his childhood with the Jackson 5 in …
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_(2026_film)

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web search NEUTRAL — Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the " King of Pop ", he is widely regarded as one of the most culturally…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson

schedule

Claim 7: “Kless is charged with first-degree murder and other weapons offenses”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 8: “Authorities tracked Kless’s vehicle traveling north on the Garden State Parkway”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm that authorities tracked Kless's vehicle traveling north on the Garden State Parkway.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — San Japan is an annual three-day anime convention held during August/September at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and San Antonio Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Antonio, Texas. The convention is hel…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Japan

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web search NEUTRAL — Michael A. Kless is accused of killing his wife, Stacy Epstein-Kless, with a barbell before emailing his children and indicating a 'long simmering hatred' for her.She was declared dead that morning. O…
https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/cheating-husband-send…

+ 2 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 9: “Kless had a scratch and blood on his face, refused to let the workers in and asked for the appointment to be rescheduled”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided Wikipedia results for this claim are irrelevant (discussing a violinist and an actor) and do not mention Michael Kless or the incident.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On February 23, 2020, Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old black man, was murdered during a racially motivated hate crime while jogging in Satilla Shores, a neighborhood near Brunswick in Glynn County, Georgi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Ahmaud_Arbery

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Alexander Bălănescu (Romanian pronunciation: [alekˈsander bələˈnesku]) (born 11 June 1954) is a Romanian violinist, and founder of the Balanescu Quartet.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Bălănescu

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Michael Golden (15 August 1913 – 1983) was an Irish stage, film and television actor, mainly active in England. His stage work encompassed Shakespearean roles at Stratford in 1947; and as police ins…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Golden_(actor)

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Claim 10: “He then emailed his two children to say he was going to kill himself”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources mention Kless emailing his children and indicating a 'long simmering hatred' and intent to commit suicide/overdose.

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help

Claim 11: “Michael and Stacy Kless were married in 1987, according to a wedding announcement published in the New York Times”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results to confirm the wedding date or the New York Times announcement.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.