An Indian-origin couple and their two children were discovered deceased in their residence located in the US state of New Jersey, and law enforcement is currently treating the case as a homicide.
Tej Pratap Singh, 43, and Sonal Parihar, 42, were found deceased along with their 10-year-old son and 6-year-old son in their Plainsboro home, sometime following 4.30 pm on Wednesday, as reported by the Plainsboro Police Department.
On Thursday, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Plainsboro Police Department Chief Eamon Blanchard jointly declared that an investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the homicide.
On the evening of October 4, a 911 call was made, requesting a welfare check at a Plainsboro residence. Upon arrival, the Plainsboro Police Department discovered four deceased individuals within the house," as stated in their joint statement.
"This tragedy remains under investigation, and autopsies are being conducted today," they added. An initial examination indicated that there was no danger to the public.
Individuals with any information or surveillance footage relevant to the area are urged to contact the Plainsboro Police Department.
A joint message from Mayor Peter Cantu and Chief Eamon Blanchard, Director of Public Safety, expressed the Plainsboro community's deep sorrow for the loss of life.
"We are all saddened by this tragic event. What happened in our community is beyond comprehension," Mayor Peter Cantu expressed.
Plainsboro police officers are currently collaborating with law enforcement colleagues to conclude the investigation.
"Please be assured that this is an isolated occurrence, and there are no additional concerns regarding the safety and well-being of the community related to this incident," Blanchard stated.
"Our public safety personnel continue to remain vigilant and resilient and will continue to ensure the safety of the Plainsboro community," the joint statement concluded.
As of Thursday morning, crime scene tape still surrounded the family's residence on Titus Lane, as shown in footage from News 12 New Jersey.
The family's remains were discovered after a relative requested a welfare check. At the time, authorities were exploring the possibility of a murder-suicide, as reported by the outlet.
Relatives informed CBS News that they were taken aback by the family's tragic demise and observed that Singh and Parihar seemed to be a contented couple.
Singh, specifically, was actively involved in the community.
At the time of his passing, Singh served as a Lead APIX Engineer for Ness Digital Engineering, based on information from his LinkedIn profile.
Both Singh and Parihar had professional backgrounds in the IT sector, including the field of Human Resources, according to family members.
The school district conveyed their condolences for the children in a message to parents, as reported by News 12 New Jersey.
“The district was informed by local law enforcement of a horrific tragedy involving one of our Plainsboro families with a Wicoff student and a Millstone River School student,” Superintendent David Aderhold wrote, mentioning two of the local elementary schools.
"As the law enforcement investigation is ongoing, we are unable to provide any additional information at this time. The District joins our community in grief and sorrow over this tragic event."
Property records indicate that Singh and Parihar acquired their home in August 2018 for $635,000.
Neighbors described the family as amiable and mentioned that they frequently saw them strolling along the peaceful street.
A neighbor who wished to remain anonymous revealed that she had a friendly relationship with the family for over a decade.
The neighbor stated that her daughter typically met the 6-year-old girl at the bus stop to travel to school together each morning. However, on the morning when the family was found, the girl did not appear.
"It was strange for me not to see her in the morning," the neighbor remarked. "They were such a lovely family."
The neighbor recounted that she sent a text message to Parihar later in the morning but did not receive a response.
