35-year-old Hillsborough woman charged with murder of her two sons

A 35-year-old Hillsborough woman has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon after her two sons, ages 5 and 7, were found unconscious at a family home. Emergency crews pronounced both children dead at the scene, and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office has identified the defendant as Priyatharsini Natarajan of Hillsborough.

Investigators say they responded to the residence on January 14 after the children were discovered unconscious by a family member. The county Major Crimes Unit and the local police department are handling the investigation. Prosecutors say preliminary findings indicate the defendant caused the deaths, and a full postmortem examination by the Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the official cause and manner of death.

Natarajan was held at the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing. The detention hearing will determine whether she remains in custody while prosecutors prepare the case for trial. With first-degree murder charges, the case is expected to move slowly as investigators complete forensic analysis, gather evidence and prepare for pretrial proceedings.

For the local community, the case raises immediate concerns about safety, transparency and support for grieving family members. Families with young children often look to municipal and county officials for reassurance after events that feel random or inexplicable. Expect heightened police presence in the area while investigators work, and expect public updates to come through the county prosecutor’s office and the township police department as a cautious, methodical investigation proceeds.

From a true crime perspective, key developments to monitor will include the medical examiner’s final report, any search and seizure warrants that become part of the public record, the timeline detailed in charging documents and the outcome of the detention hearing. Those elements will shape the prosecution’s narrative, the defense strategy and the community’s understanding of what happened.

This investigation remains active and will likely generate courtroom motions, evidentiary hearings and, potentially, a trial. For readers seeking reliable information, follow official statements from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and local law enforcement. The autopsy findings and the results of the detention hearing will be the next concrete milestones that determine how the case proceeds and what justice may look like for the victims and the Hillsborough community.