Barnegat Man Pleads Guilty To Murdering His Mother & Father In 2023; Prosecutors Seek Consecutive Prison Terms Totaling 60 Years

Thursday, March 12, 2026, 12:20 P.M. ET. 4 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

BARNEGAT, TOWNSHIP, NJ.- An Ocean County man admitted in court Wednesday that he fatally stabbed both of his parents inside their Barnegat Township home in 2023, formally pleading guilty to two counts of murder in a case that shocked the quiet Ocean County community.

     Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Michael Mulgrew, 37, of Barnegat, entered guilty pleas on March 11, 2026, before the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P., in Ocean County Superior Court. Mulgrew admitted responsibility for the deaths of his parents, Eugene Mulgrew, 71, and Cheryl Mulgrew, 69, who were discovered fatally stabbed inside their residence on Lincoln Avenue in Barnegat Township on November 2, 2023.

     Under the terms outlined by prosecutors during the plea proceedings, the State intends to seek two consecutive 30-year sentences in New Jersey State Prison, each carrying 30 years of parole ineligibility, when Mulgrew is sentenced on June 5, 2026. If imposed consecutively as requested by the State, the sentences would require Mulgrew to serve 60 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.

Discovery Of The Crime;

     The case began shortly before 11:00 a.m. on November 2, 2023, when officers from the Barnegat Township Police Department were dispatched to a residence on Lincoln Avenue to assist medical personnel conducting a scheduled mobile outreach visit at the home.

     As Police Officers approached the residence, they observed a male walking away from the property. Upon reaching the front door, officers noticed red staining believed to be blood on the exterior door.

     Police entered the home to check on the occupants and quickly discovered blood throughout multiple areas of the residence, according to investigators.

     When officers proceeded to a bedroom inside the home, they located the bodies of two victims, both suffering from apparent stab wounds to the upper torso. The victims were later identified as Eugene Mulgrew and Cheryl Mulgrew.

     Investigators also recovered a knife in the vicinity of the bedroom, believed to be connected to the killings. 

Suspect Located Nearby;

     The man initially observed walking away from the residence was soon located by Barnegat Township police officers in the area of West Bay Boulevard and Gunning River Road, not far from the Mulgrew home.

     That individual was identified as Michael Mulgrew, the victims’ son.

     Police took Mulgrew into custody without incident, according to authorities.

Investigation And Charges;

     A joint investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, the Barnegat Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit determined that Michael Mulgrew was responsible for the fatal stabbings.

     Following the investigation, Mulgrew was charged with two counts of murder and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he has remained lodged since his arrest on November 2, 2023.

     Court proceedings over the past two years ultimately culminated in the guilty plea entered on Wednesday, resolving the case without the need for a trial.

Prosecutor’s Office Acknowledges Investigators;

     Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledged the work of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Mara Brater, who is prosecuting the case on behalf of the State.

     Billhimer also commended the collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation, including:

• Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit
• Barnegat Township Police Department
• Barnegat Township Police Department Detective Bureau
• Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit

     Authorities credited the coordinated investigative work of these agencies with quickly identifying and apprehending the suspect and building the case that ultimately led to Mulgrew’s guilty plea.

     Mulgrew is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on June 5, 2026, when the State will formally argue for consecutive prison terms.

Editor’s Note:

The information contained in this report is based on official statements released by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and court proceedings held in Ocean County Superior Court on March 11, 2026. Under New Jersey law, a defendant who pleads guilty waives the right to trial. Final sentencing determinations will be made by the court at the scheduled hearing on June 5, 2026.