Nearly five months after psychotherapist and new mother Brooke Hanlon was brutally stabbed to death, police descended on her New Jersey home Thursday as investigators in what appeared to be forensic clothing entered the property.
Hanlon’s widower, Conor Hanlon, who had stayed at the house intermittently in recent months, was seen there Wednesday.
His vehicle was gone by the time roughly 10 cruisers from the Chester Township Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office arrived late Wednesday afternoon.
More police vehicles and a Morris County Sheriff’s crime-scene van were outside the home Thursday morning, according to exclusive Our News Outlet photographs.
Morris County law-enforcement traffic cones marked the driveway and the steps leading to the front porch.
A spokeswoman for the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office told Our News Outlet Thursday that she had no new information about the sudden police activity at the Hanlon residence.
A former New Jersey police officer, however, said Thursday that investigators identified a “third DNA source” early in the murder inquiry.
“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 35-year-old new mother was found dead June 6 inside the Chester Township home she shared with her husband, Conor Hanlon, and their daughter, Avery (Source: Brooke Hanlon/Facebook)
Officers gathered outside the Chester Township property as about 10 cruisers from local police and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office arrived Thursday afternoon
The former officer said a Chester Township police officer involved in the initial questioning of Conor Hanlon described his behavior as “very bizarre” and considered him suspicious.
“But they have that third DNA. They can’t lock anyone up because of that. You have to give everything up in discovery,” the former officer said. “They are trying to run this [third DNA source] down. From what I hear—I don’t think they had slam-dunk proof it’s him [Conor].”
Neighbors told Our News Outlet that police closed both entrances to Pottersville Road, where the Hanlon home stands, on Wednesday night. Searchlights reportedly remained trained on the property until 11 p.m.
“I just wish this would finally be over with. It’s been so difficult not to have any information for all these months,” one visibly nervous neighbor told Our News Outlet Thursday.
Questions have surrounded the circumstances of the young mother’s death from the outset.
Brooke, the daughter of a prominent Big Pharma attorney, was found dead June 6 inside the Chester Township home she shared with Conor and their baby daughter, Avery.
In a disturbing 911 call released in July, Conor can be heard screaming that he had discovered his wife’s body and that there was “blood everywhere.”
“I just found my wife! … She’s not breathing or conscious,” Conor cried during the call. “What the f**k, what the f**k! I need CPR. Oh my God, there’s a laceration in there!”
The mystery surrounding Brooke Hanlon’s killing has gripped her quiet New Jersey community, where residents say they have received little information about the investigation
The usually quiet residential road became the focus of intense police activity Thursday
Investigators wearing forensic gear were seen entering the home
At several points, Hanlon’s high-pitched cries were difficult to make out.
“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, I need help immediately! … I need an ambulance! I don’t know what to do, what the f**k.”
The 911 operator told Hanlon to perform chest compressions. He can then be heard saying, “I got this, I got this, come on Brooke.”
While performing the compressions, Hanlon again referred to her stab wounds, asking, “What the f**k happened?” He continued crying and grunting until first responders arrived.
Before the call ended, Hanlon told the first responders, “I found her.”
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In late August, Our News Outlet spoke exclusively with Conor after a reporter approached him at the Pottersville Road home, where he had been spending occasional nights.
“My heart is totally shattered,” said Conor, 36.
Asked about rumors that he may have been involved in Brooke’s death, he shook his head to indicate no.
A Morris County Sheriff’s crime-scene truck and several police vehicles stood outside the Hanlon home Thursday morning as investigators returned to the scene of the killing
Neighbors said authorities closed both entrances to the road as multiple vehicles lined the street
Conor Hanlon was photographed near the couple’s home more than two months after his wife was found stabbed to death
“Of course not,” he said, appearing somber but composed as he stood in the home’s doorway.
“It’s a tragedy.”
Conor repeatedly declined to comment further, citing the “ongoing investigation,” and would not answer questions about whether police had identified a possible suspect.
The couple moved to Chester, Brooke’s hometown, about two years ago after meeting in Conor’s native Boston.
The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office has released few details about the homicide. Brooke was not publicly identified as the victim until June 26, after Our News Outlet reported her identity exclusively, and the office has not returned media calls.
The apparent police operation this week followed Our News Outlet’s report last month that investigators were working to resolve a difficult piece of evidence or a lead—potentially involving DNA—that could help explain the lengthy investigation.
“They do have something, and they’re trying to work it out,” said our source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The source, who has extensive experience in homicide and forensic investigations, said DNA was among the forensic issues under examination.
Brooke and Conor married in June 2021 and moved into their $550,000 Chester home two years ago (Source: Brooke Hanlon/Facebook)
The murder of Brooke Haggerty Hanlon remains unsolved, with no arrests or suspects named four months later (Source: Brooke Hanlon/Facebook)
When Our News Outlet approached Brooke’s father, Joseph Haggerty, in late June, he appeared unaware of where his son-in-law was at the time. Haggerty, a former general counsel for several major Big Pharma companies, said he and his wife were caring for the couple’s baby, Avery.
Three Hanlon neighbors told Our News Outlet in late June that they knew Conor casually but had rarely seen Brooke.
One neighbor said Conor was seen outside the house on the morning Brooke was killed.
Two neighbors said they texted Conor after seeing police vehicles at the home June 6 but had not heard from him since.
Brooke, who was raised in Chester, most recently worked as a licensed professional counselor and psychotherapist serving children, adolescents and families.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wake Forest University and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Northeastern University in Boston.
Brooke held several counseling positions in the Boston area before returning to her hometown in 2024.
Conor worked as a middle manager for a construction company near Chester Township. He is no longer employed there.
Calls to several of Hanlon’s relatives in Boston went unanswered Thursday. Brooke’s family also did not return a call from Our News Outlet.
