“It’s unusual. In all my years, I haven’t come across anything quite like it,” private investigator Carl DeFazio said.
More than two months after a New Jersey mother and psychotherapist was discovered dead inside her Chester residence, authorities have released little information about the homicide investigation.
Brooke Hanlon, 35, was found on June 6 inside her home on Pottersville Road, where investigators said she had suffered multiple stab wounds.
Brooke Hanlon was found murdered inside her Chester, New Jersey, home in a case that prompted a local homicide investigation. (LinkedIn)
DeFazio, a former U.S. Marine and retired NYPD officer, said the lack of public updates has stirred speculation. Still, he noted that investigators may be deliberately withholding key details as they work the case out of public view and protect evidence that could prove critical later.
“I always pay attention to what they’re not saying,” DeFazio said. “In a homicide case, they usually keep one or two details confidential — things only the perpetrator would know.”
Conor Hanlon leaves a residence in Brighton, Mass., on Thursday, July 9, 2026. Hanlon is the widower of Brooke Hanlon, who was found dead in their home in New Jersey in June. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for News Outlet)
The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office is heading the investigation, but officials have not publicly identified a suspect or named any person of interest.
The investigation started when Conor Hanlon, Brooke’s husband, made a 911 call reporting his wife was unresponsive and not breathing.
Brooke Hanlon, 35, was found dead with multiple stab wounds inside her Pottersville Road home in Chester, New Jersey on June 6, investigators say. (Kelsie Cairns)
Officers responded to the call and, within minutes pronounced her dead at the scene, classified the death as “suspicious.”
Sources confirmed to News Outlet the couple’s 12-month-old baby was inside at the time of the incident. The child was unharmed.
Brooke Hanlon was found stabbed to death in her Chester, New Jersey, home in June. No suspect has been named in her case. (Facebook/Meta)
DeFazio noted that in high-profile homicides, initial 911 audio and the presence of family members inside the home are among the very first things investigators dissect to establish a timeline.
A computer-aided dispatch (CAD) log released to News Outlet revealed several days of investigative activity at the home.
Exterior view of the home where the murdered body of Brooke Hanlon was found in early June with multiple stab wounds to the torso, Chester Township, New Jersey, Monday, July 6, 2026. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for News Outlet)
DeFazio said the first few days of an investigation are critical to preventing missteps.
“I always start at the beginning — the crime scene — and work my way out. A lot of investigators will go in there with a suspect and try to make the facts fit their suspect. That’s the wrong way to do it,” DeFazio said.
Brooke Hanlon, whose death was ruled a homicide, was found at her New Jersey home in June 2026. She is pictured with her sister, Paige, who is seen to her left. (Paige Haggerty)
“I look at what they didn’t do. Did they interview the neighbors? Did they rope off the house? Did they take DNA samples? Did they find a crime weapon? Was there a struggle? Were there any defensive wounds? I’d really love to see the ME’s [medical examiner’s] report.”
News Outlet previously spoke to neighbors who revealed they are still on edge and constantly looking over their shoulders for a potential murderer on the loose.
Brooke Hanlon, 35, was found stabbed to death on June 6, 2026, in Chester, New Jersey. Nearly seven weeks later, investigators have not announced a suspect, identified a person of interest or made an arrest in the case. (Kelsie Cairns)
DeFazio said investigators in complex homicide cases must audit every detail from day one — ranging from financial policies like life insurance to underlying personal relationships — which often explains why police hold back information while piecing together a timeline.
Jennifer Payne, Brooke Hanlon and Conor Hanlon pose for a photo at a Boston College football game. (Jennifer Payne)
News Outlet has repeatedly reached out to Conor Hanlon for comment. He has not been charged with any crime or wrongdoing.
