NJ Mom Pleads Not Guilty In Murder Of Her 2 Kids

SOMERVILLE, NJ — Hillsborough mother Priyatharsini Natarajan made her first court appearance and entered a not-guilty plea on Tuesday morning in connection with the deaths of her two sons, ages five and seven.

Priyatharsini Natarajan, 35, of Shell Court, Hillsborough, appeared at the Somerset County Courthouse in Somerville for her first appearance before Judge Angela Borkowski.

Natarajan pleaded not guilty to the charges of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. She also agreed to detention, which means she will remain in jail throughout the court proceedings.

She faces two terms of life without parole. Natarajan is eligible to be represented by a public defender and agreed that she would not be seeking private counsel.

During the hearing, Natarajan stared forward at the judge and barely spoke. When she did speak, including to say "yes, Ma'am" to agree to detention, her voice was so quiet that Borkowski had to repeatedly ask her to speak up.

Borkowski noted that there was "ample evidence to detain the defendant."

She added that the evidence was "quite strong," including a handwritten note by Natarajan describing her plan to kill her children and commit suicide.

Natarajan also made suicidal statements to her husband and officers at the scene of the crime, said Borkowski.

Natarajan's actions were described by Borkowski as "extreme acts of violence" against the most vulnerable in our population.

The lives of other members of the community would be at risk if Natarajan was not detained behind bars during the court proceedings, said Borkowski.

A Pre-Indictment Conference is scheduled for Feb. 27 at 9 a.m. in person before Judge Robert Wilson.

Double Murder

On Jan. 13, 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 boy "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.

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.

The Township, along with Hillsborough Reformed Church, held a vigil this past Saturday for the boys.

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.