Ok, so, this is my friends tree in NJ. I'm not sure what kind of tree it is, was hoping someone here might be able to help with that, along with any input on what your opinion is on what could have happened to this poor tree. I believe it is a flowering type tree. 

So, basically, they didn't notice anything wrong with the tree, until they realized it wasn't blooming yet. Then noticed this split, & posted it on Facebook, asking for advise. But, noone had a serious answer, was mostly jokes..so, that sent me into research mode. Lol. I've been looking up and reading different stuff most of the day. But, Pretty much all the information is about the frost crack and the sun damage, as well as the sporadic growths etc. I would like to say first, I am no tree expert! Lol I just love trees, and I like a challenge and I like to learn, so that's why I'm doing this. Anyway, in my opinion from what I read and the pictures I've seen, it doesn't really look like the frost cracks. I mean this sucker is split down the middle of the trunk it looks like, and almost looks like it was in a storm, but it hasn't been. My first question to them was, was it struck by lightning? Said they didn't know, but didn't see any black on it. So nosy me started zooming in on the pictures etc. And I saw from a distance couldn't get it that close a strange looking spot on the top of the tree trunk where the branches start to come out that looked dark, maybe black. So I asked them if it was really dark or it was a shadow or the picture or just me....lol.. So they took a few more pictures for me to look at, and the more I looked at them the more perplexed I got. The bark to me, looks different on different places of the tree, and it just didn't look very healthy on the trunk part, & It didn't look like most of the pictures I saw of the Frost crack etc. It looks like it was ripped apart. Also at that "weird" place at the top of the trunk, it looks like there were branches there, maybe & cut off. They also said that there was some water sitting in the lil divot around it.  Just that whole area where the branches come out, looks strange. And lastly, they took a pic of the ground area & I really don't know what to make of it, looks "strange to me too .... Lol... There is also a place at the bottom, near the ground that they were so excited about, that the said looked like "new growth", but, I have no clue. I believe the tree needs to come down, but would love to hear opinions on what could have happened here, & if anyone with an expert eye can tell if it has bugs, or disease or what? Any input would be great! Thanks so much in advance, for taking the time to read this, & help a curious woman out! Lol...

Ps- I am going to post a few more pics in a seperate blog too, not enough room on this one.