1-28-2026 5:34pm

Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office: Son Arrested in Hillsborough Tragedy

Donnella Tilery Editor

HILLSBOROUGH, N.J. – Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr., and Hillsborough Township Chief of Police Michael McMahon announced the arrest of Patrick J. Lin, age 37, Hillsborough, New Jersey in relation to the double homicide of his parents which occurred on Cornell Trail, Hillsborough Township, New Jersey on September 25, 2025.

Prosecutor McDonald stated that on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at approximately 4:12 p.m. Hillsborough Township Police received a request to conduct a check on the occupants of a residence on Cornell Trail. Responding officers attempted to contact the residents with negative results. Subsequently at approximately 6:24 p.m., officers were successfully able to enter the residence.

While performing a check on the second floor of the residence, officers encountered an adult male, later identified as Patrick Lin with a weapon, which resulted in two Hillsborough Township Police Officers discharging their duty weapons and striking the assailant.

Officers immediately began performing life saving measures on Lin who was transported to an area trauma center, where he was listed in critical condition. Officers discovered two deceased homicide victims, an adult male and adult female, both located within two separate bedrooms on the second floor of the residence. Both victims were pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Somerset. Prosecutor McDonald stated that detectives from the Hillsborough Township Police Department along with detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Crime Scene Investigations Unit, Medical Investigators from the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability Fatal Police Encounters Unit responded to the scene to conduct the investigation.

A postmortem examination was performed by the Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office. The victims were subsequently positively identified as David Lin, age 69, and Jean Lin, age 69, husband and wife. The cause of death for both victims were blunt force injuries to the head, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.

The investigation, which remains on-going, has yielded that the homicide deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Lin were an isolated incident and there are no threats to the public from this tragic incident.

Prosecutor McDonald stated that in accordance with N.J.S.A. 52:17B-107(a)(2), the officer(s) involved shooting investigation is being conducted by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office. Prosecutor McDonald stated on Friday, January 16, 2026, as a result of this on-going investigation, detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit charged Patrick J. Lin with two counts of 1st degree Murder, one count of 1st degree Attempted Murder, and two counts of 3rd degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose.

Patrick Lin was served with his complaint in a local hospital where he is currently listed in stable condition and guarded by the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office. Upon discharge from the hospital, defendant Lin will be lodged in the Somerset County Jail. Defendant Lin will be scheduled for a pending court hearing on this matter as directed by the court. Prosecutor McDonald, Chief Roman, and Chief McMahon request anyone with information relating to this incident to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100 or the Hillsborough Police Department at (908) 369-4323 or via the STOPit app.

The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through Somerset County Communications at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office website at https://SomersetProsNJ.gov. All anonymous STOPit reports, and tips will be kept confidential. NOTE: The charges are merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.