Slain North Jersey Mother's Autopsy Report: Key Findings

CHESTER, NJ — It has been more than four months since Brooke Hanlon was found stabbed to death in her Chester home, and while police and neighbors still scramble for answers, details of her death have been revealed in a recently certified autopsy report.

The heavily redacted autopsy was done by Morris County Medical Examiner Dr. Di Wang on June 7, one day after Hanlon's death; however, it was certified on Sept. 20.

Background— NJ Mother Mysteriously Killed, Husband Widowed. ‘No Update’ 3 Months Later: Cops

As previously revealed by investigators, the 35-year-old mother's cause of death was multiple sharp-force injuries, with the manner of death being homicide.

The autopsy report, despite being redacted, plus the 9-1-1 call from her husband, James, reporting the killing, shed some light on Brooke Hanlon's final moments.

While the report doesn't specify how many stab wounds Hanlon endured, it does contain eight numbered categories of injuries, though most descriptions are heavily redacted.

See the eight categories of injuries below, plus what information is made and not made available about them (eight injury categories do not indicate eight total injuries):

• Injury Category 1: Sharp force injuries. The number, location, dimensions, and direction of the wounds are redacted.
• Injury Category 2: Multiple wounds are described, including a reference to a wound on the left side. Most anatomical details are withheld.
• Injury Category 3: Sharp force injuries. The report references approximately 100 milliliters of blood in one location and 400 milliliters in another. The anatomical locations are redacted.
• Injury Category 4: Sharp force injuries. The number of wounds, their measurements, and directions are largely withheld.
• Injury Category 5: Multiple wounds are described. One visible passage states that the direction was "front to back."
• Injury Category 6: A wound is described along with approximately 30 milliliters of blood clot. The location and most other details are redacted.
• Injury Category 7: Sharp force injuries. Measurements and wound directions are concealed.
• Injury Category 8: Extremity injuries. The report documents multiple injuries, but their precise locations and descriptions are withheld.

Hanlon's head and skull were uninjured in the attack, the report adds. It also says her body cavities, heart, reproductive system, and multiple intestines were intact and unremarkable.

The report does not establish that her neck, chest, lungs, abdomen, or extremities were entirely uninjured. Portions of their examinations are redacted, including descriptions of injuries and associated internal findings.

Furthermore, it says there were no "skeletal or joint abnormalities observed other than the above-described," indicating that there were injuries to Hanlon's musculoskeletal system.

A blood specimen was taken for a toxicology analysis that would be published in a separate report, Dr. Wang writes.

Background

It's been more than four months since 35-year-old Brooke Hanlon was found stabbed to death in her Chester home, and a lack of updates from law enforcement indicates little progress has been made in finding her killer.

On June 6, police were called to a Chester home on Pottersville Road on reports of a "cardiac or respiratory arrest."

Instead of a cardiac patient, authorities found resident Brooke Hanlon, a 35-year-old family therapist, stabbed to death in her home.

Authorities were slow to release the identity of the victim, waiting more than three weeks to provide her name. Even now, details on the slaying, including potential suspects and a murder weapon, are scarce, despite Patch's several inquiries to law enforcement.

In September, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office told Patch that there is "no update at this time" with regard to the Hanlon case.

Brooke Hanlon's husband, James "Conor" Hanlon, who reported the stabbing to 9-1-1 in a harrowing phone call, recently spoke out on the tragedy.

Related — 'There's Blood Everywhere': Husband’s 911 Call After Finding NJ Woman’s Bloody Body Released

“My heart is totally shattered,” James told The Daily Mail. "It's a tragedy."

The two recently welcomed a baby daughter.

The outlet asked James whether he's been considered a suspect in the crime, to which he said: "Of course not."

According to Fox News Digital, James Hanlon has been in communication with Morris County authorities and has obtained an attorney.

'Truly Talented and Dedicated Therapist'

More than two months after Hanlon died, her obituary was published. It says she is remembered for her "extraordinary kindness, friendship, loyalty, empathy, compassion, humility, and generosity."

"She loved her work, was a truly talented and dedicated therapist, and had tremendous compassion for all those she counseled," Hanlon's obituary reads. "Brooke was a truly beautiful soul... Everyone who has ever interacted with her will always remember Brooke's bright and beautiful smile."

Read More: Chester Mother, Wife, Psychologist Remembered After Mysterious Slaying

Reward For Information

Chester officials and law enforcement have been remembering Brooke Hanlon, and are still scrambling for answers.

"Our community was saddened to learn of Saturday’s incident," Chester Mayor Tim Drag said days after the slaying. "Our thoughts are with the victim’s family, friends, and all those affected by this tragedy."

With no leads announced and details remaining scarce, the Chester Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff's Office, and the Morris County Prosecutor's Office are turning to the public for help.

Law enforcement is seeking "the public’s assistance with providing any information concerning the death of Brooke Hanlon or suspicious activity observed in the area of Pottersville Road."

The sheriff's office is offering a $1,000 award for information that could lead to an arrest.

Anyone with information that could help officials investigate Hanlon's death can contact the following:

• Morris County Prosecutor's Office: 973-285-6200, prosecutor@co.morris.nj.us
• Chester Police Department: 908-879-5514
• Morris County Sheriff's CRIMESTOPPERS: (973) COP-CALL, 1-800-SHERIFF, or fill out this anonymous online form.