In the quiet borough of Fair Lawn, New Jersey, a grim discovery was made on the night of June 1, 2016, at the home of the Tempe family. Richard Tempe Jr., a 53-year-old male, was found deceased in what authorities would later describe as a horrific domestic event. The unfolding tragedy revealed that Richard Jr. was not only a victim but also the perpetrator of a violent sequence of events that claimed the lives of his parents as well.
That evening, neighbors noticed fire and smoke billowing from the Tempe residence on Fourth Street and promptly alerted the authorities. When police and fire personnel arrived and entered the burning home, they discovered the bodies of three individuals. The victims were identified as 76-year-old Richard Tempe Sr., his 73-year-old wife Barbara, and their son, Richard Tempe Jr.
The scene within the house told a story far more sinister than a simple house fire.
Subsequent investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office brought the shocking details to light. It was determined that Richard Tempe Jr. had shot and killed both of his parents inside their shared home. After committing these acts, he then intentionally set the house ablaze before turning the handgun on himself. The Bergen County Medical Examiner's Office officially ruled the deaths of Richard Sr. and Barbara as homicides, and Richard Jr.'s death as a suicide.
The authorities reassured the Fair Lawn community that this was an isolated incident, stemming from a domestic dispute, and that they were not seeking any other suspects in connection with the deaths. Neighbors expressed their shock and sadness over the incident, recalling the family as people they would help with groceries and other daily kindnesses. The investigation into the double murder-suicide was a collaborative effort between the Fair Lawn Police Department and the Bergen County Sheriff's Office, as they worked to piece together the final moments of the Tempe family.
