NJ Woman Charged With Murder In Shooting Death Of Husband

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — A Middletown woman is under arrest and has been charged in the fatal shooting death of her husband, which took place at the couple’s home Monday morning, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced.

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 Michele Linzalone, 73, had called 911 and reported the accidental shooting of her husband, later identified as Rocky V. Linzalone, 74.

When police arrived, they were directed by the woman to a second-floor bedroom. Upon entry, the husband was located with a gunshot wound to the head. Members of the Middletown Township EMS and paramedics responded. Despite attempts at medical intervention, the man was pronounced dead at the home.

Middletown police contacted the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and a joint investigation was immediately launched into the incident. As a result of the investigation, police have determined that the shooting was not the result of an accidental gun discharge.

Linzalone was charged with first-degree murder and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. She was taken to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold pending a first appearance before a judge Tuesday. Subscribe to Patch to be the first to know in Monmouth County news: https://patch.com/subscribe

The county prosecutor declined to reveal what kind of gun was fired, citing that it is evidence in the case.

Linzalone is currently lodged at the Monmouth County jail and was arraigned at a virtual hearing at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, said a spokesman for the county prosecutor. She will likely have a detention hearing on Friday.

An arraignment is when criminal charges are formally and publicly announced before the person accused of committing the crime. In response, the accused is expected to admit a plea.

Friday's detention hearing is when the judge will decide whether Linzalone will remain in jail or be allowed out of jail with or without bail.

In prior cases when people have been charged with first-degree murder in Monmouth County — such as the 2018 Colts Neck quadruple murder case — judges have decided to keep the accused in the county jail, with no option of posting bail.

Acting Prosecutor Linskey and Middletown Police Chief R. Craig Weber praised the collective efforts of both Middletown Police and the detectives with the prosecutor's office "for their swift and professional response in handling this investigation."

If convicted of murder, Linzalone faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Detective Jason Gold of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at (800) 533-7443 or Detective Keith Hirschbein of the Middletown Township Police Department at (732) 615-2100.

Stay tuned for updates to this developing story. Contact this Patch reporter: Carly.baldwin@patch.com

Initial Patch report on this incident: Fatal Shooting In Middletown Private Home Monday Morning