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SEE: North Arlington Couple Found Dead Identified
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ORIGINAL STORY: A North Arlington couple was found stabbed dead and a 3½-year-old child was in law enforcement protection following what was believed to be Bergen County's second murder-suicide in days, both involving a child.
The dead woman was pregnant, authorities confirmed Thursday.
The child was found in the Garden Terrace apartment after a neighbor called police seeking a welfare check at 5:40 p.m. Wednesday, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said.
Officers forced their way in and found the bloodied couple, both of whom were in their early 30s, both deceased, he said.
“An investigation revealed that Aarti B. Rudrawar died as a result of multiple stab wounds inflicted by her husband,” Musella said.
Balaji Rudrawar “also died as a result of multiple stab wounds, “ the prosecutor added, “but his manner of death is undetermined pending the completion of an autopsy and investigation.
“At this time, no other individuals are believed to be involved,” Musella added.
Musella was awaiting a determination by the Medical Examiner’s Office before officially characterizing Balaji Rudrawar's death.
If it's determined to be a murder-suicide, it would be the second in Bergen County in days, both of which involved a child.
A convicted sex offender died by suicide Saturday following an hours-long SWAT standoff at his Carlstadt home after he shot and killed his ex-wife in front of their 5-year-old daughter.
SEE: ‘Daddy Killed Mommy’
Wednesday's horrific incident in North Arlington wasn't the only killing at Riverview Gardens in recent years.
Five years ago, another man -- Eric Pleger -- beat his wife, Luisa, to death with a hammer a little over a block away. At the time, it was the borough's first homicide in 22 years.
Pleger, 51, is serving a mandatory 38 years of a 45-year state prison sentence for his wife's murder. He'd have to live to 84 to be eligible for parole.
The identities of the couple found at Riverview Gardens on Wednesday were temporarily being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin, who apparently don't live in the United States.
Musella’s Major Crimes Unit Homicide Squad was investigating with North Arlington police. The Bergen County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Identification collected evidence.
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