A mother of three who was found dead inside of her home was the victim of a homicide, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

The prosecutor says that Denise Bartone was found dead inside her home located at 123 Koster Drive in Freehold Monday morning.

Officials also say that a vehicle registered to the Bartone family was found parked on the Thomas Edison Memorial Bridge in Woodbridge Monday morning. The body of Kenneth Bartone, Denise’s husband, was found floating in the Raritan River several hours later. Police have ruled his death an apparent suicide.

Law enforcement officials have not released many details about the deaths, including how Denise Bartone died or if Kenneth Bartone is suspected of killing her. But the prosecutor did say that there does not seem to be any further danger to the public.

Friends of the Bartones say that Denise was a prominent member of the Freehold school community. She was the chairperson of a local education foundation. The couple has three daughters.

“I’m just so heartbroken over the whole thing. I know Denise. I know her children. She was a lovely woman. Always for her children, always involved in the schools,” says neighbor Carmela Calamita.

A vigil for Denise Bartone was held at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine in Freehold Monday evening.

"Tragedy does not even begin to describe the terrible events of today. I have to tell you Denise was a beautiful, beautiful person - inside and outside. Everybody you speak to just loved her and she loved everybody. She was a wonderful person. She was a loving mother and the fact I have to speak about her in past tense breaks my heart," says Freehold Mayor Barbara McMorrow.

Officials say that the investigation remains open. Anyone who may have any details is asked to contact Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Andrea Tozzi at 1-800-733-7443 or Freehold Township Police Detective James Burdge at 732-462-7908.