When it is reported that police came to the couple's home before the divorce, that is code for domestic violence. Why can't reporters just tell the truth without all the puffery?
Sickening--but not surprising--that this father was then awarded shared custody of the 11-year-old son. So what do abusers do when they get access to a victim, and are just burning to punish Mom? They kill the kid, just like this POS did. Stop giving violent fathers "rights"!
Dad is identified as JENS ELBERLING.
http://www.nj.com/union/index.ssf/2014/09/scotch_plains_father_who_committed_suicide_killed_11-year-old_son_tried_to_set_house_on_fire.html
Father tried to set house on fire in Scotch Plains murder-suicide, police say
Jessica Remo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
By Jessica Remo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on September 11, 2014 at 1:55 PM, updated September 11, 2014 at 4:02 PM
SCOTCH PLAINS — The father who police say killed his 11-year-old son last week and then killed himself, also appeared to have tried to set his home on fire in the incident, according to police.
Scotch Plains Police Chief Brian Mahoney said when police arrived at the rented Jerusalem Road home of Jens Elberling, 48, on Saturday morning, they could hear either a smoke or carbon monoxide detector sounding from inside the home.
Mahoney said the Scotch Plains Fire Department and police then forcibly entered the home through a side door into the kitchen, where they found an open oven, turned on and stuffed with clothing.
The clothing continued from the oven in a trail winding through the living room and into a bedroom where police found the bodies of Elberling and his 11-year-old son, Thomas, both apparently shot with a rifle, Mahoney said.
"The clothes didn't appear to be doused in anything, but I'm not an expert," Mahoney said. "They just burned almost like a fuse, and smoldered right away without really igniting."
Police were called to the home after a family member requested a welfare check, Mahoney said.
"It's the ultimate tragedy when children are involved," Mahoney said. "No young child deserves this fate."
Jens Elberling and his wife Ke-Yen (Kate) Chou shared custody of their son Thomas Elberling under a court order issued after Chou filed for divorce last May. The couple clashed over issues that brought police to their former home in Berkeley Heights several times, Jens Elberling said in court papers.
One major disagreement that emerged in the court papers was over their son's education. The quarrel reached a critical point this month with the approach of the new school year, according to court documents.
Thomas Elberling had been home-schooled for the last two years, and according to papers filed in the Superior Court in Elizabeth, Jens Elberling wanted his son's home schooling to continue, contending it met his bright educational needs and allowed time for his daily study of chess.
Thomas Elberling was an expert-level player, who was ranked fifth in his age group in the country, with a rating of 2151, the United States Chess Federation confirmed.
A "family friend" has created an online fundraiser to collect donations for Thomas Elberling's funeral.
"The sudden and unexpected loss of Thomas Elberling has left us all in sorrow," the website says. "He is and will always be deeply missed. We are raising funds to help his family through this tragedy and ease their financial obligations."
The website has raised $2,520 as of Thursday afternoon.