2 NJ Boys Strangled To Death By Mom, Affidavit Reveals

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Two Hillsborough elementary school boys, ages five and seven, were strangled to death by their mother hours before their father found them, according to new details released Thursday in police documents.

Priyatharsini Natarajan, 35, of Shell Court, Hillsborough, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

The Affidavit of Probable Cause obtained by Patch details the circumstances surrounding the boys' death.

On Tuesday, at around 6:45 p.m., a man called 911 and said he came home from work to his apartment on Shell Court, where he found his sons not breathing.

• Related: Hillsborough Dad Finds His 2 Kids Dead, Their Mom Is Charged With Double Murder

"The caller said, 'the wife killed the kids'," according to the report.

Hillsborough Police Officers found Natarajan "in a hyper state" and detained her while they searched the apartment before finding both boys dead, according to the report.

The boys "had a ligature mark on his neck consistent with having been strangled," according to the report.

One of the boys had Rigor Mortis consistent with having been dead for several hours, according to the report.

The father told police that before he found out that his sons were dead, Natarajan "confessed to him that she killed them," and they had been dead for several hours, documents said.

Authorities also found a handwritten note addressed to the husband with Natarajan's plans to kill the boys and herself, according to the report.

When detectives tried to interview Natarajan, she refused to speak with police, according to the report.

Multiple “ligature materials” were also found inside the apartment, the documents said. Ligature material is generally material used to tie off soft tissue. Rope, scarves, belts and medical sutures are all classified as ligature material.

Sunnymead Elementary School

The two boys were students of Sunnymead Elementary School. Following the deaths, Hillsborough School Superintendent Michael Volpe shared a message with the community. Read More: Killing Of 2 Students Shatters NJ Elementary School Community

"Our community - of which I am a resident - is navigating an unfathomable loss today. Last night, we lost two of our young students from Sunnymead Elementary School. There are no words to adequately capture the weight of this tragedy, and our hearts are with the families and the entire Sunnymead community as they grieve," said Volpe.

Crisis response teams and additional counseling services are on-site and will remain available for as long as they are needed.

Hillsborough Township Committeeman Robert Britting also commented on the tragedy.

"The sudden loss of life for two young children has shaken our community. God bless them. Please say prayers for them," said Britting. "Take a moment to hug the ones you love."

The investigation remains ongoing and no further information will be available for release, police said.

Anyone with information relating to the investigation should contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at 908- 231-7100 or the Hillsborough Township Police Department at 908-369-4323 or via the STOPit app.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Tips Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and tips will be kept confidential.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.