Man charged with fatally stabbing wife at New Jersey home, fire under investigation
A man is in custody after fatally stabbing his wife at their South Jersey home Tuesday morning, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office said. Meanwhile, a fire at the home is also under investigation.
Prosecutors said 50-year-old Jerome Morris stabbed his wife, 51-year-old Monica Morris, at their home on the 100 block of Freedom Way in Erial.
Gloucester Township police officers were called to the home around 2:30 a.m. for a report of a stabbing. That's when officers found Jerome Morris covered in blood and holding a knife, according to prosecutors.
His wife's body was found in a third-floor bedroom, where officials said there was heavy fire and smoke.
Firefighters from the Erial Fire Department, Gloucester Township Fire District 88, Pine Hill Fire Department and Winslow Fire Department all responded to the scene.
Monica Morris was pronounced dead around 2:50 a.m.
Two other adults were inside the home when the fire started, but they escaped without injury, officials said. Neighbors told CBS News the couple has children, and at least one of them was home at the time and may have witnessed the attack.
Home security video from the area obtained by CBS News Philadelphia shows a person in the street screaming before police arrived.
Three Gloucester Township Police officers suffered minor injuries while inside the home. Two of the officers were treated on scene, and one was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated and released.
Jerome Morris was charged with first-degree murder and third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Camden County prosecutors said charges related to the fire may be filed at a later time, pending the results of the investigation.
Monica Morris was a culinary arts teacher at Trenton Central High School, according to a spokesperson from the school district. Counselors and social workers will be available across the district this week.
"Mrs. Morris was a dedicated educator who cared deeply about her students and took great pride in her work," the district said in a note to families and staff. "She made a lasting impact through her passion, mentorship, and commitment to helping students grow both in and out of the classroom."
A neighbor who spoke with CBS News Philadelphia said she saw smoke coming from the townhome where the fire started, and that she and other residents were evacuated from their homes around 2:30 a.m.
"It's just sad, you just don't know what people are going through," a neighbor named Nickie said. "It's a lot that goes on behind closed doors."