New Jersey

Family of 3 Found Fatally Shot in Burning NJ Home

The bodies of an elderly New Jersey couple and their 53-year-old son were pulled from a burning house Wednesday night after they were killed in an apparent murder-suicide, a prosecutor said.

Police said the bodies of Richard Tempe, 76, his wife Barbara, 73, and their son Richard Tempe Jr., 53, were all found with bullet wounds when firefighters pulled them out of the the house in Fair Lawn.

Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir Grewal said Thursday afternoon that a handgun was recovered from the home and that the county medical examiner's office determined that the couple was shot by their son who then committed suicide.

Police said the fire appeared to be arson. 

Fire officials responded to the fire at about 11:35 p.m. Wednesday after a 911 call, authorities said. The house was still smoldering early Thursday morning, police said. 

Contact Us