A 57-year-old New Jersey man who authorities said stabbed his former girlfriend’s boyfriend had earlier hidden in a crawl space and spent seven hours in her home waiting for her to return, according to a court document.
Patrick Robertelli also sent the woman hundreds of harassing and threatening texts, according to an affidavit of probable cause charging him with attempted murder and other offenses.
In addition, he texted his former girlfriend a photo from the crawl space weeks before allegedly stabbing her new boyfriend, authorities said.
The harassment escalated on June 5 at about 10:45 p.m. when Robertelli showed up at the boyfriend’s house in Ortley Beach in Ocean County, authorities said.
The two men began to fight before Robertelli stabbed the other man, authorities said. Robertelli’s former girlfriend was there and called 911.
The 52-year-old was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune with critical injuries. Authorities later said the man was in stable condition.
Robertelli, who has addresses in Monmouth Beach and Toms River, is also charged with aggravated assault, stalking, harassment and weapons offenses.
He was released from the Ocean County jail on Wednesday and is due back in court on July 21, according to court records.
Robertelli’s attorney, Robin Lord, couldn’t immediately be reached Friday.
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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.