A devastating tragedy unfolded in New Jersey this week after authorities arrested a 35 year old mother accused of killing her two young sons while their father was at work.
Priyatharsini Natarajan is facing two counts of first degree murder along with a weapons possession charge following the deaths of her 5 year old and 7 year old boys.
According to investigators, the children’s father discovered both boys unconscious in a bedroom at their Brookhaven Lofts apartment when he returned home from work around 6 45 p.m. on Tuesday.
He immediately called 911, telling dispatchers that his wife had done something to the children. First responders rushed to the scene but were unable to save the boys’ lives.
The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office stated that evidence suggests Priyatharsini Natarajan allegedly caused the deaths earlier that same day. The exact cause of death has not been released as the investigation remains ongoing.
The case has sent shockwaves through Hillsborough Township, where neighbors described the family as quiet with no visible signs of trouble prior to the incident.
Prosecutors say the investigation is still active as authorities work to piece together what led to the heartbreaking deaths.
Priyatharsini Natarajan is currently being held pending trial. If convicted, she faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years to life in prison for each murder charge.
The boys’ father is cooperating fully with investigators as law enforcement continues to examine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.