Michael Mulgrew, a 37-year-old from New Jersey, has admitted to murdering his parents following a dispute over household chores. The incident occurred in Barnegat Township, where he stabbed Eugene and Cheryl Mulgrew before dragging their bodies. Prosecutors seek consecutive 30-year sentences without parole.
On November 1, 2023, Cheryl Mulgrew contacted police and mental health services to seek assistance for her son, Michael Mulgrew. According to an affidavit, he had left the home by the time evaluators arrived. Later that evening, she called authorities again, reporting his return and plans to visit a doctor the next morning.
The following day, November 2, around 11 a.m., Barnegat Township police responded to the residence on Lincoln Avenue to assist medical personnel. Officers observed a man walking away from the house and discovered blood on the front door. Inside, they found blood throughout the home and, in a bedroom, the bodies of Cheryl Mulgrew, 69, and Eugene Mulgrew, 71, with stab wounds to their upper torsos, along with a kitchen knife.
The man walking away was identified as Michael Mulgrew, who was taken into custody. During questioning, he stated that he had left the previous night fearing harm from his family. He admitted to returning the next day, arguing with his parents about household chores, stabbing them with a kitchen knife, dragging their bodies into the bedroom, packing a bag, and leaving the scene.
Michael Mulgrew pleaded guilty on Wednesday to two counts of murder. The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced the plea, with sentencing scheduled for June 5. Cheryl and Eugene Mulgrew, described in their obituary as childhood sweethearts married for nearly 50 years, were noted as life partners, best friends, and loving parents who created a home filled with warmth, laughter, and love.