New Jersey Man Accused of Killing Parents After Alleged Pre-Planned Attack, Authorities Say

Investigators say a Somerset County man brutally killed his elderly parents in their Hillsborough home and then confronted arriving police officers with a knife in a well-planned and violent event.

Police say 37-year-old Patrick Lin has been charged with two murders, attempted murder of police officers, and weapons charges. Investigators believe the attack was planned, including escape and weapon and supply purchases, according to court records.

Lin allegedly prepared for the killings in the days before. Investigators claim he withdrew cash early the morning of the incident and parked his car nearby to escape fast. Police found fresh clothes and a baseball bat in the car, likely to help him flee after the attack.

Lin ordered knives and ready-to-eat meals online and had them delivered to the family home, according to court filings. According to an affidavit reviewed by officials, a notebook found in his bedroom included frightening scribbled comments, including a wish to kill someone and escape getting caught.

A Hillsborough police welfare check at the Lin home on September 25 revealed the violence. After hours of trying, officers entered the home through an unlocked sliding glass door in the early evening. As they moved to the second level, police claim Lin emerged from a bedroom with a knife and attacked an officer.

Lin allegedly tried to stab another cop after one officer discharged his service weapon, forcing a second shooting. Lin was arrested, treated at the scene, and brought to a local hospital, where he remains in stable condition under police observation.

Lin’s parents, David Lin, 69, and Jean Lin, 69, were found dead in separate bedrooms when police secured the premises. Authorities characterized the situation as terrible. Both individuals were found in bed with blunt force trauma-related head injuries. Officials stated dental records were needed to identify the couple due to their injuries.

Both homicides were caused by blunt force head injuries, according to a preliminary autopsy. Investigators found blood spatter patterns in bedrooms indicating multiple hits. One of three baseball bats found in Lin’s bedroom closet tested positive for blood. Police found more blood in Lin’s chamber.

Investigators think the deaths happened overnight. Authorities analyzed phone records and found the victims last communication the night before they died. Lin’s cellphone showed him inside the home when police arrived early in the morning.

The house had no traces of forced entry, and police found no one else. This information supports officials’ judgment that someone within the home attacked.

Lin was charged with a crime while hospitalized and will be sent to Somerset County Jail after recovery. In his initial court appearance, a judge will discuss detention and future proceedings.

The state reviews all police use-of-force instances in New Jersey. The officer-involved shooting is being investigated by state and county officials alongside the criminal prosecution to guarantee transparency and accountability.

The case has shaken the local community, raising issues about family violence and its warning signals. Authorities stressed that the investigation is ongoing and that more details will be revealed in court.