Key keywords: Brooke Hanlon murder, New Jersey therapist homicide, daytime home murder unsolved, married new mom cold case, N.J. residential killing mystery, 2024 unsolved New Jersey violent crime, Brooke Hanlon therapist death On a quiet Tuesday afternoon in mid-September 2024, 32-year-old Brooke Hanlon, a licensed marriage and family therapist and new mother to a 6-month-old baby boy, was found dead inside her single-family home in the upscale, low-crime suburb of Westfield, New Jersey, in what law enforcement has called a targeted, violent assault that has left the entire community reeling. Hanlon’s husband, who had left the house for roughly 90 minutes to run a routine errand and drop off dry cleaning, returned to find his wife unresponsive in the first-floor home office where she often met with virtual clients, and immediately called 911. First responders pronounced Hanlon dead at the scene; their infant son, who was asleep in an upstairs crib at the time of the attack, was unharmed and has since been placed in the care of extended family. In the weeks following the killing, investigators from the Union County Prosecutor’s Office have released limited details to the public, citing the active, ongoing nature of the investigation. They have confirmed that there were no visible signs of forced entry to the home, leading authorities to believe Hanlon likely knew her attacker, or let them into the home voluntarily. Investigators have interviewed dozens of Hanlon’s clients, colleagues, friends, family members and neighbors, and reviewed hundreds of hours of security camera footage from homes and businesses within a half-mile radius of the Hanlon residence, but have not yet named any persons of interest or identified a clear motive for the killing. Hanlon, who was widely known in the community for her work supporting survivors of domestic violence and couples navigating marital conflict, had no known enemies, according to statements from her family released through a spokesperson. A community vigil held in her honor two weeks after her death drew more than 800 attendees, and local business owners and residents have raised a $75,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case. Law enforcement officials are asking anyone who saw unusual activity, unfamiliar vehicles or strangers in the neighborhood on the day of the killing, or who has information about Hanlon’s professional or personal interactions that may be relevant to the case, to contact the Union County Prosecutor’s Office tip line immediately. As of October 2024, the case remains unsolved, with investigators calling it one of the most high-priority active cases in the county.