Cranford Mom Pleads Not Guilty to Attempted Murder Charges

A Cranford mother charged with attempted murder for allegedly setting her vehicle on fire with two children inside had her first appearance in Union County Court on Wednesday.

Narcissa Zuber, 48, appeared in court on Wednesday with bandages on her hands and scars on her face, according to NJ.com.

Judge Joan Robinson Gross said Zuber is facing first-degree charges and her bail will remain at $800,000, according to NJ.com. She is also not authorized to see the children and must surrender her passport, the article said.

Her attorney, William Lundsten of Teaneck, filed a not guilty plea and plans to file a motion to reduce her bail, NJ.com reported.

The ages of the children have not been released.

Zuber is originally from Colombia and used an interpreter for the appearance. She became a U.S. Citizen in 1992, according to NJ.com.

Zuber allegedly set her Jeep Liberty on fire on the Garden State Parkway in Clark on Oct. 26 and continued to drive it until authorities found the vehicle with the burned mother and children in Woodbridge, according to an investigation by the prosecutor’s office, the Troop E criminal investigation office and the Arson Unit of the New Jersey State Police.

The children were rushed to an area hospital following the accident, but have now been released and continue to recover.

They are staying with their father, Zuber’s husband, Ronald Zuber, according to NJ.com. Ronald Zuber who is the director of the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal.