Somerset County woman charged with murder in deaths of 2 young sons, authorities say
HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Somerset County) — A Hillsborough woman has been charged with murder in the deaths of her two young sons, who were found dead in a bedroom of the family’s home, authorities said.
Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said Priyatharsini Natarajan, 35, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Police were dispatched to the residence about 6:45 p.m. Tuesday after a 911 call from an adult male resident who told dispatchers he arrived home from work and found his two children unconscious, and said his wife “did something to them,” McDonald said.
Officers who entered the home encountered the caller and Natarajan, authorities said. Police found two boys, ages 5 and 7, dead in a bedroom. Officers and medical personnel attempted lifesaving measures, but the children were pronounced dead at the scene, the prosecutor said.
Authorities have not released the children’s identities pending confirmation by the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office. A postmortem examination was scheduled to determine the cause and manner of death, officials said.
McDonald said the investigation determined Natarajan caused the children’s deaths Tuesday. The case is being investigated by the Hillsborough Township Police Department and detectives from the county prosecutor’s Major Crimes Unit and Crime Scene Investigation Unit, along with medical investigators from the medical examiner’s office.
Natarajan was taken to the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing, authorities said.
Authorities asked anyone with information to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at (908) 231-7100, the Hillsborough Township Police Department at (908) 369-4323, or the Somerset County tips line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). Tips also may be submitted through the STOPit app, officials said.
