FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Somerset County) — A 60-year-old Somerset man was charged with murder Wednesday after a woman was found dead with apparent stab wounds at a Franklin Township home, authorities said.
Craig Montgomery was charged with first-degree murder and third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in connection with the death, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.
Franklin Township police were called to a home on Majesty Lane at about 10:11 p.m. Tuesday for a welfare check after a report of loud arguing, authorities said.
Officers initially were unable to make contact with anyone inside the home. Police received another call about the residence and returned to the scene.
When officers attempted to enter the home, they encountered Montgomery, who told them he had a knife and had barricaded himself inside, authorities said.
Police requested assistance from the Somerset County SWAT team. SWAT officers, members of the Crisis-Negotiations Team and tactical medics arrived at about 1:50 a.m. Wednesday.
SWAT officers breached a sliding door and entered the home, authorities said. Montgomery then charged at officers with a knife. Officers used less-lethal force to subdue him and take him into custody.
Inside the home, officers found an unresponsive adult woman with apparent stab wounds to her chest. She was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.
A second person inside the home was not injured.
Montgomery was taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. He will be taken to the Somerset County Jail after his release from the hospital and held pending a detention hearing, authorities said.
The woman’s identity has not been released pending positive identification by the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office. A postmortem examination will be conducted to determine the cause and manner of death.
Detectives with the Franklin Township Police Department and Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes and Crime Scene Investigations units are investigating the death. Medical investigators also responded to the scene.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533. Anonymous tips can be submitted through SCPO.TIPS or by calling the Somerset County Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477).
