Barnegat, NJ man stabbed his parents to death, cops say

🔺 Police were called to a home by mobile medical workers

🔺 The search for a suspect prompted a shelter-in-place in two school districts

BARNEGAT – A couple was found stabbed to death inside their home Thursday and a search for the suspect, their son, prompted a temporary shelter in place of schools in two towns.

Michael Mulgrew, 34, is charged with two counts of murder in the death of Eugene Mulgrew, 71 and Cheryl Mulgrew, 69.

Barnegat police were called to the couple's home on Lincoln Avenue around 11 a.m. by medical personnel visiting the home, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer.

The arriving officers saw a man walking away from the home and then saw what looked like blood on the front door. When they went inside they found the bodies of the couple already dead with stab wounds to their upper torsos. A knife was also found near the bedroom.

Schools shelter in place

Police closed off the area and put schools in Barngat and neighboring Stafford on lockdown while they looked for the man.

He was found in the area of West Bay Boulevard and Gunning River Road in Barnegat and taken into custody without incident. The lockdown at the schools was lifted around 1 p.m.

Billhimer did not disclose a motive for the stabbing.

Michael Mulgrew is also being held at the Ocean County Jail on two weapons possession charges.

Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom