Teen charged with terrorizing bullied NJ student's funeral

SOUTH BRUNSWICK — A high school student who was tormented by bullies and struggled socially during her final years faced further degradation upon her death when her memorial service was viciously hijacked.

A teen who police say interrupted the Zoom memorial service with threats to blow up a funeral home last year has now been charged criminally.

The service for South Brunswick High School senior Emily Murillo in February 2021 was held online due to gathering restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 17-year-old died in January 2021 when her Jeep went off Canal Road and fell into the Delaware & Raritan Canal in Franklin. Emily's death was ruled a suicide, according to her mother.

The service was interrupted by someone who threatened to "make the casket turn to ashes," according to South Brunswick police Chief Raymond Hayducka.

“It was unspeakable to us that while family and friends were mourning the loss of this young girl, someone would look to threaten them,” Hayducka said in a statement. "Investigators never gave up in their search for the suspect.

Emily Murillo (Kenneth Gleason via GoFundMe)

One final indignity for a bullying victim

Emily's mother Erin told MyCentralJersey.com in July 2021 that her daughter was bullied at home, at school and at her job at Target. The Zoom incident at the memorial was one more indignity when people called Emily "stupid" and signed in with names like "Emmy's f****ng corpse."

Emily had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, ADHD and severe dyslexia, her mother told MyCentralJersey.com.

Criminal charges for memorial service

A juvenile from North Jersey was charged with second-degree terroristic threats, third-degree false public alarm, and fourth-degree cyber harassment. The charges were elevated because the threat was made during the state of emergency from the COVID pandemic, according to the chief.

The investigation involved the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office, New Jersey State Police, the FBI and law enforcement agencies in Connecticut and North Jersey, Hayducka said. Numerous court orders and contact with several social media platforms were also part of the investigation.

“I told all the officers involved that we will never stop until we track down every lead. It took almost 18 months, but we got him,” Hayducka said.

If you feel you or someone you know may be in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 (starting 7/16/22), 1-800-273-TALK, or the NJ Hopeline, 1-855-654-6735

Dan Alexander is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at dan.alexander@townsquaremedia.com

Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.

LOOK: 31 breathtaking images from NASA's public library

In 2017, NASA opened the digital doors to its image and video library website, allowing the public to access more than 140,000 images, videos, and audio files. The collection provides unprecedented views of space. Stacker reviewed the collection to select 31 of the most breathtaking images, including the first from the James Webb Space Telescope. Keep reading to see these stunning images, curated with further information about the captured scenes.

LOOK: What are the odds that these 50 totally random events will happen to you?

Stacker took the guesswork out of 50 random events to determine just how likely they are to actually happen. They sourced their information from government statistics, scientific articles, and other primary documents. Keep reading to find out why expectant parents shouldn't count on due dates -- and why you should be more worried about dying on your birthday than living to 100 years old.

Beautiful sunflower fields to visit in NJ 2022

Among reasons why the “Garden State” remains a fitting nickname for New Jersey — late summer means the arrival of sunflower season.

There are at least six fields, spanning the state. Some are in bloom as of early August, while others are planned to peak from late August to late September.

Calling or emailing before heading out is always advisable if weather appears to be an issue.