Police swarmed the Chester Township, New Jersey, home of psychotherapist Brooke Hanlon on Thursday, nearly five months after she was found stabbed to death. Detectives, some appearing to be in forensic gear, were observed entering the residence, accompanied by numerous police cruisers from both Chester Township police and the Morris County Prosecutor's Office. A Morris County Sheriff's crime scene van was also present.
A spokeswoman for the Morris County Prosecutor's Office stated there was no new information to share regarding the sudden police activity. However, a former New Jersey police officer told the Daily Mail that investigators identified a "third DNA source" at the crime scene, found under Hanlon's fingernails, which has complicated the investigation.
"They found DNA from someone who is not Brooke or Conor under Brooke's fingernails," the source said. "That's why this has been taking so godd**n long." The source also indicated that while Conor Hanlon, Brooke's husband, acted "very bizarre" during initial questioning, the presence of the unidentified DNA prevents an arrest without more conclusive evidence.
Brooke Hanlon, 35, a new mother, was discovered dead in the home she shared with her husband, Conor Hanlon, and their infant daughter, Avery, on June 6. The harrowing 911 call released in July captured Conor Hanlon's distressed discovery of his wife's body, with him reporting "blood everywhere" and requesting immediate medical assistance.
Conor Hanlon, who had been staying at the home intermittently in recent months, was seen near the property on Wednesday, but his vehicle was not present when police arrived later that afternoon. He previously told the Daily Mail in August that his "heart is totally shattered" and denied any involvement in his wife's death, citing the ongoing investigation.
The Morris County Prosecutor's Office has released minimal details about the murder investigation. The couple had moved to Chester two years prior. Brooke Hanlon was a licensed professional counselor and psychotherapist specializing in working with children, adolescents, and families. Conor Hanlon had been employed as a middle manager at a construction company but is no longer with the firm.
Neighbors reported that police had sealed off both entrances to the road where the Hanlon home is located, with searchlights visible at the residence until late Wednesday night. The increased police presence on Thursday marks a significant development in a case that has left the community seeking answers for months.