A New Jersey family of four was tragically found dead in their Plainsboro home on Wednesday afternoon, in what authorities are investigating as a possible murder-suicide. The deceased have been identified as Tej Pratap Singh, 43, his wife, Sonal Parihar, 42, and their two children, a 10-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl.
A neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed shock and disbelief at the news. She described the family as “sweet” and recalled how the couple’s daughter would meet her own daughter at the school bus stop every morning. However, on the day of the tragic discovery, the young girl was noticeably absent.
The neighbor reached out to Parihar later that morning but received no response. The bodies of the family were discovered a few hours later, after a relative requested a welfare check around 4:40 p.m., according to the Plainsboro Police Department.
Singh and Parihar were active members of their community. Singh was known to participate in the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings at his children’s elementary school. The family was also seen celebrating the Hindu festival of Holi, as evidenced by a Facebook photo posted by Singh about 18 months prior to their deaths. The photo showed the family smiling and covered in bright colors, a stark contrast to the grim reality that unfolded.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with authorities hinting at the possibility of a murder-suicide. The news has left the community in shock, as they grapple with the loss of a family that was seemingly full of life and joy.
The family’s home remained cordoned off by crime scene tape on Thursday as the investigation continued. The Plainsboro Police Department has not released any further details about the incident at this time.