TOMS RIVER – A Barnegat man admitted in court today that he fatally stabbed his parents, pleading guilty to two counts of murder during a hearing in Ocean County Superior Court.
Michael Mulgrew, 37, entered the plea before Ocean County Criminal Presiding Judge Guy P. Ryan after the judge questioned him extensively about his mental health, his understanding of the charges, and the rights he was waiving.
Ocean County Assistant Prosecutor Mara Brater placed the terms of the plea agreement on the record. “It’s my understanding that the defendant will be pleading guilty to counts one and two of indictment 24-05-944, which are both murder counts in the first degree,” Brater said.
In exchange for those pleas, prosecutors agreed to dismiss two additional charges at sentencing: possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon.
Under the agreement, the state will recommend a sentence of 30 years in New Jersey State Prison for each murder count, with each sentence carrying a 30-year period of parole ineligibility under the No Early Release Act.
The prosecutor also asked the court to impose the sentences consecutively. “The state would be seeking a consecutive sentence on both of those counts,” Brater said.
Defense attorneys indicated they will ask the judge to run the sentences concurrently instead.
Ryan noted that several factors could influence how the sentences are ultimately structured, including Mulgrew’s mental health history, the psychiatric emergency screening response involving the family shortly before the incident, and the defendant’s acceptance of responsibility. Based on those circumstances, the judge indicated he would be inclined to impose concurrent sentences rather than consecutive ones.
Victim Survivor Opposes Resolution
Mulgrew’s sister, Michelle Mulgrew, who is considered the victim survivor in the case, attended the hearing with other family members.
Brater told the court she had consulted with Michelle Mulgrew prior to the hearing and that she does not support the plea resolution. “I consulted with the victim survivor who’s present in the court. She’s not in agreement with this resolution, as it stands,” Brater said.
The prosecutor added that the victim believes there are unresolved factual issues and plans to address the court at sentencing.
Judge Ryan asked for clarification about the nature of the objection. “Most of the time when you say that the victim survivor is not in agreement, it means that it should be greater,” he said. “That’s not what you’re referring to.”
“In this case, no judge,” Brater replied. “She is not in agreement with the severity of the sentence that the state is seeking.”
Mental Health And Rights
Judge Ryan then conducted an extended series of questions to determine whether Mulgrew understood the charges and whether his plea was voluntary. Mulgrew sat next to the judge in the witness chair during the exchange. His responses were delivered calmly and quietly.
Mulgrew told the court he was taking psychiatric medication while incarcerated. Ryan asked whether the medication affected his ability to understand the proceedings. “Does it affect your ability to understand what you and I are talking about, or the ability to understand what you and your attorney talk about?” Ryan asked.
Mulgrew said it did not.
Ryan also reviewed the procedural history of the case and noted that the court had previously determined Mulgrew was competent to stand trial. “My notes go back to April 10, 2024, and at that point I found you competent to stand trial,” the judge said.
The judge explained that Mulgrew had the right to a jury trial and could assert defenses including self-defense or insanity. Ryan described the legal standard for an insanity defense and noted that both the defense and prosecution had obtained psychiatric evaluations during the case.
“What’s your decision about whether you want to assert an insanity defense or not?” Ryan asked.
Mulgrew responded that he wished to waive it.
He also acknowledged that he understood his right to challenge statements he made to police through a Miranda motion and agreed to waive that right as part of the plea.
Discovery And Evidence
Mulgrew’s attorney, led by public defender Michael Vito, confirmed that the defendant had been provided access to all discovery in the case, including digital evidence such as crime scene photographs.
Vito emphasized the extensive amount of time he spent working through the case with his client. “I personally came to see you the day after you were arrested on November 3, 2023,” Vito said. He told the court that he had met with Mulgrew at least 40 times since then, offering to review the evidence with him and explaining the contents of reports, photographs, and other materials tied to the investigation.
Mulgrew confirmed that he had access to the discovery but chose not to personally view the evidence himself.
Judge Ryan noted that the defendant had still been fully informed about the contents of that evidence through discussions with his attorneys.
Stabbing Inside Family Home
The charges stem from the deaths of Eugene “Geno” Mulgrew, 71, and Cheryl “Sherrie” Mulgrew, 69, longtime Barnegat residents who had been married nearly 50 years.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, concerns about Mulgrew’s mental health surfaced the evening before the killings.
On November 1, 2023, at approximately 6:30 p.m., the homeowner contacted authorities requesting a response from the Psychiatric Emergency Screening Service (PESS) because she believed her son was experiencing a mental health crisis. When responders arrived, Mulgrew had already left the home.
Later that night, a family member contacted Barnegat Police to report that Mulgrew had returned to the residence and appeared calm, indicating he would go to the doctor the following morning.
The following morning, November 2, 2023, police were called to the Lincoln Avenue home after signs of a violent incident were discovered.
Officers approaching the residence noticed what appeared to be blood stains on the front door. When attempts to reach the homeowner by phone failed, officers entered the house due to concerns someone inside might be injured.
Inside, police observed blood in several areas of the home. In a bedroom, officers found two unresponsive individuals with injuries to their upper bodies and located a knife with red staining consistent with blood.
Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel.
Investigators later reviewed footage from a nearby Ring doorbell camera that captured loud screaming coming from the Mulgrew home shortly before the deaths were discovered.
Plea Accepted, Sentencing Scheduled
After reviewing the plea forms and observing Mulgrew during the hearing, Ryan ruled that the defendant was competent and that the plea was voluntary. “I’m convinced he’s pleading guilty freely and voluntarily,” the judge said.
Ryan also noted that resolving the case through a plea spares family members the emotional strain of a trial. “He’s also sparing himself of the trauma of the trial and sparing any other family the trauma of the trial as well,” Ryan said.
Judge Ryan accepted the guilty pleas and scheduled sentencing for June 5 at 1:30 p.m.
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