DID NJ WOMAN KILL HER IDENTICAL TWIN OVER A MAN?

Family of alleged killer twin thinks cops made up ‘love triangle’

By Sara Dorn

New York Post
June 29, 2019

The New Jersey woman accused of stabbing her identical twin over a boyfriend “doesn’t remember” the fatal fight — but according to a distraught sibling, the sisters would never have let romance tear them apart.

Authorities believe a love triangle may have caused the deadly spat between Amanda Ramirez, 27 — who allegedly confessed to the crime — and her doomed sister Anna.

But a third sister insisted Saturday that the pair “would never fight over a man.’’

“They would argue like cats and dogs, but stuck together like thieves,” Monika Medina, 19, told The Post.

“Amanda and Anna’s bond was one of the tightest. Inseparable!”

The twins were involved in separate long-term relationships, according to Medina.

“Amanda has her own significant other. Anna had her own significant other,” Medina said.

Anna lived with her boyfriend of 2½  years, Luis Rivera. Amanda had been in a relationship for a “couple years,” Medina said, adding she believes cops fabricated the “love triangle’’ claims.

“Detectives thought this is the next big thing, ‘Sister kills twin over man,’ ” Medina added.

“We don’t believe this was a jealous act nor [done] purposely. We believe she didn’t do such a thing,” said Medina, who maintains Amanda is “still in shock.”

Amanda changed her story three times, cops said, before allegedly confessing she killed Anna as the pair wrestled over a kitchen knife during a fight outside their Centennial Village apartments in Camden.

“Detectives were all inside of her head,” said Medina, who believes Amanda’s confession was coerced. “She gave three different stories, but the last one didn’t feel correct nor did it sit right in any of our hearts.

“She kept crying but said she didn’t remember. All she remembered was seeing Anna on the ground,” Medina said of a recent jailhouse phone call with Amanda, saying her sister could have been tight-lipped out of fear the call was being monitored.

Amanda, who is facing a charge of aggravated manslaughter for the June 22 killing, is “lost, alone, hurt and most of all devastated,” according to Medina.

“She is strong as can be,” Medina added. “I know mentally she is lost and confused. Her other half is gone and no longer with us.”

“Multiple neighbors” told the family they heard the twins arguing with a group of men and women in the early morning hours before the slaying, Medina said.

Neighbors claimed the twins were begging the group to leave, according to Medina, who believes the argument may have been connected to Anna’s killing.

“I feel so lost. I know deep down my sister didn’t do this,” Medina added.

Amanda’s boyfriend, like the rest of her family, is standing by her, according to Medina. She would not disclose his name.

“We all forgive Amanda, and she knows we are here to support, comfort and love her,” Medina said. “I lost two sisters. I want her home.”

Even Anna’s three young daughters — one of whom publicly forgave Amanda as she eulogized her mother — sympathize with their aunt, the sister shared.

“They still hold their beautiful heads up strong. They still love Amanda,” Medina said. “We as a family stick together forever.”

The grief-stricken sister said she is “lost” over the death of Anna, whom she called her “best friend.”

“It hurts more than anyone would know,” she said. “We are all heartbroken.”

Medina said she found out about the 5:30 a.m. stabbing on social media but didn’t learn that it was Anna who had been killed until 11 a.m., four hours after the woman was pronounced dead at Cooper University Hospital.

“We went to hospital after hospital trying to find Anna,” Medina said. “Then they tell us they are holding Amanda. Then tell us she is being charged.”

Soon after Amanda was arrested, Medina visited her in custody, she recalled.

“She couldn’t . . . speak, nor walk,” Medina said. “This didn’t feel real. Especially when the accusations came out that Amanda did it.”