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Catherine Nunez, Marisol Nunez shot dead in NJ home invasion – NBC New York

Catherine Nunez, Marisol Nunez shot dead in NJ home invasion – NBC New York

An investigation is underway after a mother and daughter were found shot to death inside their Burlington County, New Jersey home Wednesday morning.

According to the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, police were called to the 100 block of Harrington Circle in Willingboro’s Hawthorne Park neighborhood just after 4 a.m. on Oct. 30 for a report of a burglary in progress.

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Upon arrival, prosecutors said officers discovered the bodies of Catherine Nunez, 33, and her mother, Marisol Nunez, 54. The women were discovered in an upstairs bedroom and pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation revealed that entry was made through a first-floor window that was broken by the intruders, who fled before police arrived, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said autopsies performed by Burlington County Coroner Dr. Ian Hood determined the cause of death for both victims to be gunshot wounds.

It is believed that this was not a random incident. However, prosecutors said law enforcement officers do not believe other residents in the neighborhood are in danger.

Several neighbors told NBC10 that Catherine had a young son who was also in the home at the time of the murders.

“We found out the baby was under the bed when his mother was killed and the grandmother was already gone,” said Charlee Harris, a neighbor in the area.

“Everybody is shocked to know this has happened,” said Royston Evans, a neighbor in the area.

Prosecutors said the family recently moved here from New York.

“I think it was about two years ago and, you know, very quiet. She keeps to herself. But she talks and says hello,” Evans said.

The community where the women lived was now devastated.

“I couldn’t believe it. I just escaped. We escaped immediately,” said Glenda Sprauve, who lives next door to the family.

Sprauve described the family as down-to-earth people who kept to themselves for the most part and would be the last people anyone would expect to meet such a tragic end.

“He was cool, yet a very nice person. She was kind enough for me to shed a tear or two and then some. I couldn’t even sleep last night,” Sprauve said. “It hurts. it hurts me And I feel so bad for her son.”

Neighbors are planning a prayer service outside the home on Harrington Circle on Friday night.

Anyone with information that could be helpful to detectives is asked to call the Willingboro Township Police Department tip line at 609-877-6958 or email [email protected].