Welfare Check Reveals Bodies Of Father And Son, 11

"SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — A Scotch Plains man shot his 11-year-old son with a rifle and then shot himself sometime last week, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced today.

"The prosecutor said the office was able to identify the father as Jens Elberling, 48, after performing autopsies and examining physical evidence and dental records. A spokesman for the office later confirmed the son's identity as Thomas Elberling, 11.

"The prosecutor's office said police arrived at the home on 330 Jerusalem Road on Saturday morning in response to a welfare check request from a family member.

"Arriving officers found the two bodies inside the home and also recovered a rifle used in the shootings, the prosecutor said. There were no signs of forced entry, she added.

"Mark Spivey, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office, could not say who exactly made the welfare check request. Spivey also said the exact times of death are still being determined, but that neighbors last reported seeing Elberling and his son sometime last week.

"Thomas Elberling was homeschooled and did not attend local public schools, the prosecutor said.

"`This was an unthinkable tragedy that cut short a young life,` Park said. `We want to extend our deepest sympathies to the family at this time.`"

From nj.com...