NJ Woman, 73, Indicted In Shooting Death Of Husband

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — A Monmouth County grand jury has indicted Michelle Linzalone on a first-degree murder charge in the death of her husband, plus possession of a gun for an unlawful purpose.

Linzalone, 73, is the Middletown woman accused of shooting and killing her ailing husband, who had suffered a stroke, inside their home on Dec. 13.

Linzalone has previously been denied bail and remains in the Monmouth County Jail in Freehold as her case is being processed in the courts. Her next court appearance will be March 22, which will be her arraignment.

The alleged incident took place inside the large suburban home the couple shared on Borden Road in Middletown. Linzalone worked at St. Leo the Great church in Middletown and has strong ties to the Middletown community. Her defense lawyer, Les Hartman, previously argued before the judge that the shooting was an accident, and unsuccessfully argued for her to be released and allowed to go home until trial.

This affidavit previously released by the county prosecutor showed that her husband had suffered several strokes in recent years and that Linzalone was stressed and burned out as his sole caretaker.

Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Richard English previously said he thinks Linzalone is a flight risk, due to having "significant" financial holdings, adding that he doubts her claim she shot her husband accidentally.

At 10:13 a.m. on Dec. 13, Middletown police were called to a home on Borden Road for a shooting incident. A woman, identified as Linzalone had called 911 and reported the accidental shooting of her husband, later identified as Rocky V. Linzalone, 74.

She told police that she was "playing" with the gun, that she did think it was loaded and that she aimed the gun at her husband's head and accidentally shot him. However, a search of Linzalone's phone revealed she previously searched on her iPhone "If you shoot someone in the head will they die instantly," police say.

The affidavit also showed that family members told Middletown detectives the husband had suffered several strokes recently and that his wife was his primary caretaker. Those same family members told police this appeared to take a toll on the accused woman and she became resentful towards her husband.

The prosecutor said she shot her husband in the back of the head. He was pronounced dead when police and EMTs got there.

Hartman pointed out that is was Linzalone who called police to report the shooting.

"I have a client who is a model citizen. She maintains her innocence; she has had no prior contract with law enforcement. She has a family, strong ties in the community," he argued.

Judge English did not agree.

"It appears the defendant has a significant amount of money and a significant risk of not returning to court," said the judge. He added this risk was compounded by the fact that she is accused of first-degree murder and facing life in prison.

All court hearings are currently virtual; Linzalone appeared via video from the Monmouth County jail in Freehold.

Follow Patch's coverage of the Linzalone case: Middletown Woman Charged With Murder In Shooting Death Of Husband

Phone History Reveals New Details In Middletown Fatal Shooting

Middletown Woman Accused Of Killing Husband Denied Bail

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