Family and friends of a New Jersey mother of three have identified her as the woman shot to death in a murder-suicide last weekend in Gloucester County.
The bodies of a man and a woman were recovered from a home destroyed in an explosive fire early Sunday in Washington Township. Investigators labeled the case a murder-suicide.
The woman’s death was a homicide and the man died by suicide as a result of the intentionally-set fire, the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office said Tuesday.
The case remains under investigation and the identities of the man and woman are being withheld pending official confirmation, authorities said.
The woman was identified as Michelle Whiting by family on social media and via a GoFundMe fundraiser created by her longtime friend, Tammy Ventura.
The man killed in the fire was Whiting’s ex-boyfriend, Ventura said.
She described Whiting as a devoted single mom who raised three kids.
“She’s been raising those children on her own for so long,” Ventura said. “I just want everybody to know that she had a heart of gold. She struggled so long, and she still had a smile on her face no matter what.”
Ventura said she knew Whiting for 25 years. They met when they lived on the same street in Gloucester City in Camden County.
“We both had kids and we both had our daughters a couple weeks apart,” Ventura said.
She described Whiting, who worked at an apartment complex as a leasing agent, as an upbeat woman.
“She was just happy go lucky. Always tried to look at the positive,” Ventura said. “Was always there for everybody, no matter what anybody needed. Her kids were her world.”
The fundraiser created by Ventura will benefit Whiting’s son and two daughters, and help with funeral costs. The effort had raised more than $13,000 as of 1 p.m. Wednesday.
The Washington Township Police Department received multiple 911 calls at 2:02 a.m. Sunday reporting a loud explosion and fire in the area of Tranquility Court and Orion Way, according to a statement issued by police.Washington Township Police Department
Washington Township Police received multiple 911 calls around 2 a.m. Sunday reporting an explosion and fire. First responders found the residence on Tranquility Court fully engulfed in flames, police said.
The two bodies were found after the fire was extinguished, authorities said.
The man, believed to be the tenant at the residence, was found in the living room with a handgun near his body, according to the prosecutor’s office.
The Gloucester County Medical Examiner said the man died by suicide from the fire. He was not shot.
The woman was found in a bedroom with a gunshot wound to the head that occurred prior to the fire, the prosecutor’s office said.
An investigation revealed “the presence of an accelerant” in the house and the home’s gas line had been tampered with, allowing natural gas to flow into the residence, prosecutors said.
Ventura’s voice cracked with emotion as she spoke about Whiting’s death.
“He took a young mom. He took my rock,” she said. “She was an absolute star. This is just not fair.”
Ventura said she is also trying to remember their fun times together, including trips to concerts.
“She was the luckiest person in the world. She would always win concert tickets,” Ventura said with a laugh, recalling how they went to see Pink and Aerosmith thanks to Whiting’s winning ways.
Anyone with information relevant to the case is asked to call prosecutor’s office Detective Allen Williams at 856-384-5622 or Washington Township Police Detective Matthew Laudenslager at 856-589-0330, ext. 1176. Information can also be emailed to the prosecutor’s office at tips@co.gloucester.nj.us.
Stories by Matt Gray
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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.