A New Jersey mother, Priyatharsini Natarajan, 35, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder after her young sons were found unresponsive in their Hillsborough apartment on Tuesday evening, officials said. The boys’ father called 911 around 6:45 p.m. after returning from work and finding the children in a bedroom, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors said first responders performed lifesaving measures but both boys, ages 5 and 7, were pronounced dead at the scene. The case is in its early stages, with detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and Hillsborough Township police investigating. Authorities have not released a suspected motive. Natarajan also faces a third-degree charge of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. She is being held at the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing, as the medical examiner conducts autopsies to determine the cause and manner of death. School officials said the brothers attended Sunnymead Elementary School and that counseling teams are supporting classmates and staff.
Police were dispatched to the Brookhaven Lofts complex after the 911 call reported two unconscious children inside the apartment shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday. Officers and emergency medical crews attempted resuscitation but were unable to revive either child. Investigators secured the home overnight and interviewed family members and neighbors. Detectives obtained statements indicating the father told dispatchers he believed his wife “did something to them,” a description later echoed by several neighbors who said they watched marked patrol vehicles and crime-scene vans arrive and block off the area. “It’s very sad. I pray for the families of the kids,” said Amaka Fidelis, who lives nearby. Another neighbor, Bek Ibragimov, called the news “a great tragedy,” adding that his child attends the same school.
Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said the investigation includes processing the apartment for forensic evidence, reviewing any available surveillance video, and collecting records from the school district and medical providers. Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman is overseeing investigative steps with Hillsborough Township Police Chief Michael McMahon. Authorities said the boys’ names are not being released at this time. The county medical examiner will determine the cause and manner of death; as of Thursday morning, those findings had not been announced. Officials also did not detail the weapon referenced in the possession charge or how it may have been used. Detectives asked anyone with information to contact law enforcement, and said tips could be provided directly to the prosecutor’s office or township police.
Hillsborough Township, a suburban community in Somerset County about 40 miles southwest of Midtown Manhattan, has seen few homicides in recent years, according to crime summaries maintained by state and local agencies. The rare double fatality drew regional attention overnight as television crews gathered near the complex’s entrance and parents met school buses with counselors on standby. Sunnymead Elementary notified families that school would remain open with expanded support services. Counselors and child study team members were made available for students who knew the boys, teachers were briefed on what to say in class, and a district crisis team convened to coordinate with police and county officials. Residents said patrols were visible into the night as investigators canvassed nearby buildings.
After her arrest Tuesday night, Natarajan was transported to the Somerset County Jail, where she awaits a Superior Court detention hearing under New Jersey’s Criminal Justice Reform Act. A judge will review evidence to decide if she should remain jailed while the case proceeds. Prosecutors said additional charges are possible depending on the medical examiner’s findings. The autopsies were scheduled following standard procedure; timelines for final reports vary. If the detention hearing results in continued custody, the case would move to a grand jury for consideration of an indictment, typically within several weeks. Defense counsel had not been listed in public records by Thursday, and no plea has been entered.
Neighbors described a quiet apartment building where families often pass each other at school events and on evening walks. Some said they recognized the children from Sunnymead’s drop-off line. “No one should be going through that,” Ibragimov said, noting the shock among parents who learned the news from late-night alerts. Others recalled sirens, then silence, as detectives worked behind taped-off corridors. By daybreak, uniformed officers remained on scene while maintenance staff redirected foot traffic. Residents placed small flowers near an exterior stairwell as the complex resumed its routine. There were no public vigils announced as of midday Thursday, and officials had not released funeral information.
Investigators emphasized that many details remain unknown, including the precise timeline inside the apartment before the father’s 6:45 p.m. call and the specific injuries found during autopsy. Prosecutors said they would release additional information when the medical examiner’s office completes its preliminary review. The school district said grief counseling would continue through the week and that staff would monitor the impact on students and siblings. The prosecutor’s office asked residents to avoid speculation and allow detectives to complete interviews and evidence collection. No other arrests had been made by Thursday afternoon, and authorities did not indicate any ongoing threat to the public.
As of Thursday, Natarajan remained in county custody awaiting her first court appearance, and investigators were preparing updates tied to the autopsy schedule. The next milestone is the detention hearing, expected in the coming days, followed by any grand jury action.
Author note: Last updated January 15, 2026.