South Brunswick Mourns High School Student Killed In Car Crash

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — Emily Murillo, a senior at South Brunswick High School, loved animals. She had plans of working with them after graduating school in June this year.

But a tragic accident on Jan. 29, cut her life short.

South Brunswick School superintendent Scott Feder shared the tragic news of Murillo’s passing with the school community this week.

“It is with great sadness that we are sharing with you the news that one of our students, died in a car accident on Friday night,” he said.

“This student has had very close connections with teachers and support staff over the years, and was also connected to younger children at Cambridge by working in the afterschool program this year.”

A resident of South Brunswick, Murillo, 17, began school at Brunswick Acres, then moved to Indian Fields for grades 4 and 5.

She then attended Crossroads South Middle School before moving to South Brunswick High School (SBHS).

As students came to terms with the news, the school district offered support through their crisis team staff. Feder also shared a link to the GoFundMe established for the Murillo family.

The fundraiser was started by Kenneth Gleason, who lost his son Dylan Gleason to a car crash on Jan. 2.

“We know her family’s pain too well, and we know how much the kindness of friends, family, the community and even strangers have helped us, so we’re creating this GoFundMe page in the hope that Emmy’s wonderful family can know this comfort,” he wrote.

Gleason described Murillo as someone with a “bright smile” and “sweet soul.”

“From chasing frogs near the creek when she attended Brunswick Acres Elementary to her two dogs and two geckos, Emmy always had a way with, and a love for, animals,” he wrote.

“She was determined to find a job working with them after graduating from South Brunswick High School this June, but she’s been taken from us far too soon.”

Murillo’s mother, Erin, worked for the South Brunswick Board of Education and her father Oscar currently works at Deans Elementary School. Her stepfather, Joe Popolo, is a retired firefighter now working as a fire subcode official.

“They are the kind of people who help make this community great,” said the GoFundMe page.

Gleason asked the community to give what they can to help the family with funeral costs.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the fundraiser exceeded its goal of $15,000, collecting around $27,318.

“This has been a very difficult year for our community, with so much loss. Please remember to reach out for help and take care of yourselves,” Feder said.

Murillo is survived by her sister Kaylee, a 2017 graduate of SBHS; her stepbrothers Dominic and Vincent; mother and stepfather Erin and Joe Popolo, and her father, Oscar Murillo.

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