Annette Torres, left, and Mark Morris, right, were found dead by their 11-year-old son. Police suspect Morris killed Torres before fatally shooting himself. (Facebook)
An 11-year-old boy found his parents dead in their Bergenfield, New Jersey, home on Saturday after an apparent murder-suicide, police say.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office identified the victim as Annette Torres, 36, and the “deceased suspect” as Mark Morris, 41.
Torres was killed in an upstairs bedroom, and Morris fatally shot himself in the basement of the 268 West Clinton Avenue home, NJ.com reports.
“We are investigating this incident as a domestic violence-based murder-suicide,” Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal told reporters at the scene Saturday. On Sunday, his office said investigation is ongoing and no other details were provided.
The boy was placed into the custody of authorities, police said.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. The 11-Year-Old Boy Went to His Neighbor & Said His Parents Weren’t Breathing
Police responded to the Bergenfield home at about 10:20 a.m. after receiving a 911 call from a neighbor, the Bergen Dispatch reports.
The 11-year-old boy had gone to the neighbor and said his parents were not breathing, police said.
Police have not yet said how Torres was killed.
Bergenfield, a borough of about 26,000, is located in northern New Jersey, about 20 miles away from New York City.
2. Torres Worked at a Local Store & Neighbor Said They Were Friendly
Torres. (Facebook)
Torres worked at a local Dollar Tree store, NJ.com reports. Co-workers went to her house on Saturday after she failed to show up for work.
Teddy bear, flowers and candles left by loved ones at doorstep of scene of apparent murder-suicide in Bergenfield.
An unnamed neighbor told ABC 7 News that the family was “friendly.”
“Yeah, they are usually quiet, they hadn’t any bad thing (sic), I didn’t see anything outside,” the neighbor said.
Another neighbor, identified only as Suja, told NJ.com, “they are so nice and quiet.”
3. There Is a History of Domestic Violence Involving Morris & Torres, Police Say
Morris. (Facebook)
The Bergen County Prosecutor told the Bergenfield Daily Voice that there is a history of domestic violence issues involving Torres and Morris.
Details about those previous incidents have not yet been released.
It is not yet known if Morris had a criminal record.
4. Morris Has 3 Other Children, But Details About the Family Remain Scarce
Morris. (Facebook)
Morris has three other children, but it is not known if they were also Torres’ children or if they have another mother. It is also not known if they lived with Morris and Torres, or lived elsewhere. Their ages are also not known.
One of his daughters posted photos of Morris on Facebook on Saturday and wrote:
R.I.P Daddy ??? Can’t Believe My Eyes And Ears Right Now ?? I Will Miss Them Days When You Would Wake Up Early And Make Breakfast For Us And Then Say Get Ready To Go To The Mall. Most Of All I Will Miss Our Deep Conversations. You Were One Of The Few People That I Could Pour My Heart Out To. My Heart Is Beating Way Too fast Right Now And I’m Honestly Still In Disbelief. You Will Always Be In My Heart ❤ Thank You For Giving Me Life. I Feel Honored And Blessed To Be Your First Born. OMG This Can’t Be Happening ?????? Somebody Please Call My Phone And Tell Me They Got Him Mixed Up With Somebody Else….NOOOOOOO NOT MY DAD MAN , PLEASE GOD…. TALK TO ME ALREADY
5. Morris Has Owned the Home on Clinton Avenue Since 2010, Records Show
I’m at a crime scene in Bergenfield. Waiting for officials to give comment.
Morris has owned the 1 1/2-story home on West Clinton Avenue since 2010, the Bergen Dispatch reports, citing tax records.
It is not yet known if Morris and Torres were married. The Bergen Record identified them as partners.
“I left my house around 9:30, I didn’t know anything about it,” an unnamed neighbor told CBS New York, adding she’d never heard of any problems at the house.
