JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- A couple and their daughters -- their bodies bound and gagged and their throats slashed -- were found slain inside their home early Friday. Grieving relatives described the four victims as a religious family with "no enemies."
"Whoever's responsible for this horror will be brought to justice," Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy said at a news conference Friday.
Slideshow: Family Murdered In Jersey City (Victim Photos Inside)
Jersey City police broke down the front door of 83 Oakland Ave. about 4 a.m. after concerned relatives said they had not heard from the family for several days.
Police said there was no sign of forced entry at the home before officers broke down the door.
The victims were identified as Hossam Armanious, 46; his wife, Amal Garas, 36; and their daughters, Sylvia Armanious, 16, and Monica Armanious, 8.
Investigators spent the morning at the house near the Hudson County Courthouse, donning white boots as they entered the two-story wood frame home still decorated with Christmas lights and garland.
No arrests had been made as of Friday evening.
As darkness fell, about 50 mourners gathered at an annex of St. George & St. Shenouda Coptic Orthodox Church, a Christian congregation attended by the family and other Egyptians. NewsChannel 4 reported that the slain father had been the reverend at the church since moving from Egypt 10 years ago.
Emad Fahmy, 29, a cousin of the slain woman, accepted condolences from the congregation. He described his slain relatives as a "small, happy family -- a religious family."
"They have no enemies," said Fahmy.
Fahmy said his cousin was a letter carrier and her husband was a banquet server. The older girl was active in the school drama department, while the younger girl sang in the church choir.
Sylvia was to have had her Sweet 16 party on Saturday night, he said.
Earlier, Ayman Garas, brother of the slain woman, told reporters his sister was "a very peaceful person."
"She's got nothing against anybody," Garas said. "I have no answers."
The younger girl attended P.S. 6, around the corner from the home, while her sister went to Dickenson High School. School authorities had no immediate comment.
"I feel very, very bad," said Mohammed Riaz Khan, who lives across the street from the victims. "They were a nice family."
Hossam Armanious bought the house in November 2000 for $96,500, according to tax records.
NewsChannel 4 in New York reported that authorities were investigating whether a former tenant, who had had a dispute with the family, was responsible for the slayings.
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Video: Four Found Dead In N.J. Home
