In a heart-wrenching incident that has stunned the quiet Ultra-orthodox community of Lakewood, New Jersey, two young girls were found dead inside a home on Tuesday night, according to NBC New York. Law enforcement sources revealed that their mother had been taken into custody in connection with the double homicide.
The gruesome discovery was made at a residence on Shenandoah Drive near Rockbridge Road, where authorities uncovered the bodies of two toddlers –a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old. The one-year-old victim was stabbed, and both children had been drowned. Naomi Elkins, 27, who is apparently part of the Haredi community of Lakewood, was charged with two counts of murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon.
#njmornings What appears to be a normal morning in #Lakewood is anything but after the @Lakewood_PD confirms the deaths of two children who lived in this home on Shenandoah Drive. No official word on cause or arrests. Live updates this morning on @News12NJ @OCPONJ pic.twitter.com/mHawj84JIC
— Tony Caputo (@TonyCaputo) June 26, 2024
As the community grapples with the shocking news, a heavy police presence was observed at the scene. More than a dozen officers from both the Ocean County Sheriff's Office and Lakewood Police Department were seen entering and exiting the home, while patrol cars lined the block.
The incident has left neighbors and residents in disbelief. One local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, told NBC New York, "This is a quiet neighborhood. We never expected something like this to happen here. It's absolutely devastating." The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office has yet to release an official statement regarding the incident.
