Love Triangle Led To 2011 Murder Of Teaneck Man, Prosecutor Says

TEANECK, NJ -- A jealous husband who was found shot to death last year in his charred Elm Avenue home, authorities charged Friday. 

Sui Kam “Tony” Tung, 49, faces first-degree murder, first-degree felony murder and aggravated arson charges in the March 2011 death of Robert Cantor, according to a statement released Friday night by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.

Tung confronted Cantor at his home late the night of March 6, 2011 after learning of an affair between Tung’s estranged wife and Cantor, Prosecutor John Molinelli said in the statement. Tung first learned of the relationship in 2010 and began stalking Cantor, eventually confronting him in Teaneck the night before he was found shot and his Elm Avenue home ablaze, authorities said. 

“At the time of the murder, the victim was estranged from his wife and in the process of a divorce," Molinelli said in the statement. "Cantor had been actively involved in a romantic relationship with Tony Tung’s wife, who during the course of that relationship initiated divorce proceedings against Tung."

Tung, of York Avenue in Manhattan, had gone to Cantor's home three times before the fatal March confrontation, Molinelli said Friday night. He said the date of the killing was significant to Cantor and Tung’s wife.

More charges were possible as the investigation continues, Molinelli said. 

"We have reason to believe that someone else maybe had been involved or complicit," Molinelli said. He said it was possible another person was at least aware of the crime, but would not elaborate. 

Molinelli said the murder weapon has not been found, and declined to detail evidence in the case. He said detectives recently came upon evidence leading to the arrest.

Larry Seltzer, who knew Cantor for more than 20 years, said news of the arrest came as a relief and he had suspected Tung was the killer. 

"It seemed for a great while that he was getting away with murder," he said. "It's been something that I've been waiting for." 

Cantor's friends have said they knew who was behind the murder and believed it was motivated by jealousy. 

The from some of Cantor’s friends who criticized Molinelli’s office over its handling of the case. The group and lobbied Gov. Chris Christie to intervene.

Molinelli defended his office's handling of the murder probe, saying dozens of investigators had stayed on the case in the days leading up to the arrest.  

"We always want to make sure when we file charges that we do it the right way," he said. 

Neighbors at Tung's New York City building said they didn't know him well. 

An employee at a nearby store, who declined to be identified, said Tung was often seen outside his apartment each morning. 

"I usually see him outside, but not this morning," the worker said late Friday. 

Tung owned a computer repair store on Manhattan's Upper West Side, she said. 

Tung was being held on $3 million bail at the Manhattan Detention Complex, pending an extradition hearing, authorities said. Molinelli thanked detectives from the Prosecutor's Office, Teaneck Police and the NYPD for their work on the case and arrest. 

The killing was one of two brutal murders in Teaneck since August 2010 involving arson. Outspoken resident Joan Davis after her Alpine Drive home was set ablaze. The killings left and prompted calls for justice, however, authorities stressed the crimes were not linked. 

Follow Patch on Facebook and Twitter