Mother Accused of Strangling Her Two Sons in New Jersey

Mother Accused of Strangling Her Two Sons in New Jersey

Two Hillsborough elementary school boys, ages five and seven, were killed by strangulation by their mother just hours before their father discovered them, according to new details made public in police records on Thursday.

Priyatharsini Natarajan, a 35-year-old resident of Shell Court, Hillsborough, was accused of two charges of first-degree murder and one count of third-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.

According to the complaint, Hillsborough Police officers saw Natarajan "in a hyper state" and held her while they investigated the residence before discovering both sons dead.

The youngster "had a ligature mark on his neck consistent with having been strangled," the report stated.

The report stated that one of the youngsters had rigor mortis consistent with having been dead for several hours.

According to records, the father told police that Natarajan "confessed to him that she killed them," and his sons had been dead for a few hours.

According to the police report, authorities also discovered a handwritten note addressed to the spouse that contained Natarajan's plans to murder herself and the boys.

When detectives attempted to interrogate Natarajan, she refused to talk to them.

Several "ligature materials" were also discovered within the flat, according to the records. Material used to tie off soft tissue is called ligature material. Medical sutures, belts, scarves, and ropes are all considered ligature.

According to authorities, the investigation is still ongoing and no new information will be made public.

Contact the Hillsborough Township Police Department at 908-369-4323, the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office at 908-231-7100, or the STOPit app if you have any information on the case.

Additionally, information can be obtained by calling the Somerset County Tips Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All tips and anonymous STOPit reports will be kept private.