New York ( CNN ) -- A couple who jumped to their deaths from the George Washington Bridge are believed to have committed a homicide before the leap , authorities said Wednesday . The alleged homicide was still unknown to authorities until about 11:20 a.m. Monday , when workers on the lower level of the bridge -- which connects New York to New Jersey -- saw something go by them over the side of the iconic structure , said Port Authority of New York and New Jersey spokesman Joe Pentangelo . When workers looked down , the spokesman said , they saw a man and the woman in the water . The couple floated about 1,000 feet down the Hudson River before New York fire and police responders were able to pull them out at 12:09 p.m. , Pentangelo said . After rescue workers administered CPR , the pair was taken to St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center , where they died one minute apart from each other a short time later . About 1:15 p.m. Monday , police in the village of Suffern , New York -- about 35 miles northwest of the bridge -- received a call from a man who said he had just found his uncle dead , Suffern police said in a statement . The medical examiner 's office later ruled the death a homicide by asphyxiation . The victim was identified as William Valenti , 70 , who was living at the residence with his niece , Nicki Hunt , 40 , who also went by Nikki Circelli , and her boyfriend , Gary Crockett , 41 , according to police . Investigators learned of an ongoing family dispute between Hunt , Crockett and Valenti , police said . Hunt and Crockett had allegedly taken money from Valenti 's bank account without his authorization , according to police . At the homicide scene , officers found a note which they interpreted to mean that the couple may have left the house intent on harming themselves , police said . Valenti 's vehicle was missing . On Monday evening , Suffern police dispatcher Jeremy Kaufer spotted a media story about New York authorities trying to identify the couple who jumped to their deaths from the George Washington Bridge , according to the police statement . On Tuesday , Suffern detectives traveled to the New York City morgue with members of the New York and Port Authority police departments . A positive identification of Hunt and Crockett was made , police said . Valenti 's vehicle key was located on Hunt , police said . According to Suffern police , both Hunt and Crockett had prior criminal cases , but the disposition of charges was not known . Hunt had faced grand larceny and forgery accusations , while Crockett had been charged with possession of narcotics , police said . `` The investigation is continuing but at this time we believe that Hunt and Crockett are responsible for the death of William Valenti , '' the Suffern police statement said . The George Washington Bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge spanning the Hudson River and connecting Manhattan in New York City to Fort Lee , New Jersey . According to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey , 15 people jumped to their deaths from the bridge in 2013 . The bridge is about 212 feet above the river at mid-span . There were were 49 successful interventions , where potential jumpers were stopped by police or passers-by .
Police say Nicki Hunt , 40 , and boyfriend Gary Hunt , 41 , jumped to their deaths . Police say Hunt 's uncle , William Valenti , 45 , had been murdered . The killer allegedly stole money from his bank account , police say .