N.J. Man Kills 2 Daughters and Himself

A man apparently drowned his two young daughters in a bathtub and then hanged himself from the rafters of the attic in his home in Montclair, N.J., the Montclair police said yesterday.

The man, identified as Thomas Reilly, 46, had separated from his wife, Teresa, several months ago and was renting a house in Montclair, said Thomas P. Giblin, a friend of the family who is also a state assemblyman. He identified the girls as Megan, 6, and Kelly, 5.

The couple had bought a house in neighboring Verona before they separated and Mr. Reilly moved to Montclair.

Deputy Police Chief Roger Terry said his department got a phone call from the Verona police around 7 p.m. saying that the girls’ mother, who lived in Verona, had become concerned because she had not been able to reach Mr. Reilly at home after dropping off the girls with him earlier in the day.

When officers arrived at the house on Claremont Avenue, they discovered the two girls in a bathroom on the first floor and soon found Mr. Reilly in the attic.

Mr. Giblin said that Mr. Reilly, a building engineer, was originally from County Cavan in Ireland. He worked two jobs, including a night shift. One of his jobs was at 10 Exchange Place in Jersey City and the other was nearby at Onyx Equities.

“He was very conscientious,” Mr. Giblin said. “It’s unfortunate, to say the least. He seemed to really love his kids.”

Mr. Reilly had also previously worked at St. Barnabas Hospital and had owned a bar, friends said.

The girls’ mother arrived at the house last night to pick up her children and found the police there. She was not allowed inside, so she paced back and forth talking on her cell phone.

At one point, a police officer came out of the house, pulled her aside and sat her down to talk to her, said Robert Denko, a neighbor who watched the police arrive.

“That’s when I heard her scream,” he said. “It was a Hollywood scream.”

She was taken to Mountainside Hospital in Montclair in an ambulance, Chief Terry said.

Mr. Denko said last night that Mr. Reilly’s hanging body was visible through the window as the police shined a flashlight on it. He was wearing a blue soccer jersey with short sleeves.

Re: N.J. Man Kills 2 Daughters and Himself

So sad.

Re: N.J. Man Kills 2 Daughters and Himself

OMG, how awful. I don't think I could go on if anything happened to my babies.

Re: N.J. Man Kills 2 Daughters and Himself

Disgusting!!! May he rot in hell for that!

Re: N.J. Man Kills 2 Daughters and Himself

That man was obviously seriously disurbed. Such an unimaginable tragedy.

Re: N.J. Man Kills 2 Daughters and Himself

OMG!!!!!!!!!

Those poor kids, I feel so bad for the mother!

Re: N.J. Man Kills 2 Daughters and Himself

Re: N.J. Man Kills 2 Daughters and Himself

Re: N.J. Man Kills 2 Daughters and Himself

Posted by SIBride06

That man was obviously seriously disurbed. Such an unimaginable tragedy.

Re: N.J. Man Kills 2 Daughters and Himself

Holy Cr*p. What is wrong with people. How in the world could someone kill his own kids. If you dont want to be alive anymore, take your own life, not anyone elses.
Scott

Re: N.J. Man Kills 2 Daughters and Himself

OMG that is really sad!

Re: N.J. Man Kills 2 Daughters and Himself

I will never understand how anyone can do this

Re: N.J. Man Kills 2 Daughters and Himself

That is horrible! Why get the kids involved...AZZ!!!
Should have just killed himself and that's it.

The poor mother too.

Re: N.J. Man Kills 2 Daughters and Himself

Posted by stephanief

Posted by IrishTracy

Disgusting!!! May he rot in hell for that!

he should have just killed himself and left the poor babies alone....sicko.....I hope he rots

Re: N.J. Man Kills 2 Daughters and Himself

What is going on in our world today???

Re: N.J. Man Kills 2 Daughters and Himself

Re: N.J. Man Kills 2 Daughters and Himself

So sad! Those poor kids