Teen confided in best friend that the suspect was physically abusing her mom.
RARITAN -- Sandra Giuseppe and her daughter, Kimberly Streath, were planning a move to Florida in the weeks leading up to their murder, according to one of Streath's close friends.
Speaking Wednesday, Liz Perez said Streath confided to her on Dec. 2 that Roman Cadiz, who is accused of killing Giuseppe, his live-in girlfriend, and Streath, would get drunk and assault Giuseppe.
"She was really upset that day," said Perez, who had known Streath since they both attended Bridgewater Middle School. "She wasn't talking. She wouldn't say anything. I kept asking her what was wrong.
Mourners have left flowers and candles on the steps at the residence of slain mother and teen. (Photo by Dave Hutchinson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) "Finally, she said, 'I'll tell you if you promise not to tell anybody.' Then, she said she's tired of this guy getting drunk and beating on her mom all the time. I should've said something to someone. That's what hurts me."
Streath, a 15-year-old sophomore at Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School in Bridgewater, stopped showing up for school a week later, on Dec. 7, Perez said. At the end of the week, on Dec. 11, the bodies of Streath and Guiseppe were found inside their home at the corner of First Avenue and Second Street.
Cadiz, also known as "Ray," was identified as a suspect and a statewide manhunt was launched. Just before midnight on Dec. 11, North Brunswick Police Sgt. Michael Sauvigne found Cadiz in a vehicle parked in a dimly lit secluded area on Petunia Drive in the Colony Oaks Apartment Complex and he was arrested. He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and is being held on $2 million bail in the Somerset County Jail.
Cadiz allegedly killed Guiseppe and Streath with hammers, according to an affidavit.
Perez, a junior at the Somerset County vo-tech, said the last time she saw Streath was while working at ShopRite on Dec. 4. Perez said she thought about checking on her friend on Dec. 7 when she didn't show up at school, but decided against it.
"I was going to check on her, but something told me not to go," said Perez.
Perez said the pair met in middle school when Streath couldn't find her classes and she helped her. They had been best friends ever since, said Perez.
"She was the nicest person you could meet," said Perez. "She was always there for me, giving me advice. We caught the bus together and would always hang out. I still can't believe she's gone. I'm waiting for the phone to ring and someone tell me that we got the wrong person. It's not Kim."
Perez said that Streath rarely, if ever, talked about Cadiz. When Streath confided to Perez on Dec. 2 that Cadiz was physically abusing her mother, it was one of the few times she ever mentioned him, said Perez.
Funeral arrangements for Guiseppe and Streath are being coordinated by the New York Atlantic Funeral Services in Medford, N.Y. An employee who answered the phone at the funeral home said the services will be private.
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.