A disturbing police failure has emerged in New Jersey after officers conducting a welfare check missed a horrific murder-suicide scene, only for the tragedy to be discovered hours later by grieving family members.
The Paterson Police Department is facing serious questions after 28-year-old Sabrina Korsh and her 64-year-old mother, Yelena Korsh, were found dead in their upscale neighbourhood home following what should have been a routine check.
A Fateful Knock With No Answer
According to official reports, police were dispatched to the Stoneybrook Court residence around 2:30 PM on September 10th after concerned relatives reported being unable to contact the women. Bodycam footage reveals officers knocking on the door and walking around the property, but failing to detect any signs of the horror within.
What the officers didn't know was that behind those walls lay both women, victims of an apparent murder-suicide that would only come to light when family members returned hours later and made the grisly discovery themselves.
Family's Heartbreaking Discovery
The situation took a devastating turn when worried relatives, unsatisfied with the police response, returned to the home around 6 PM. Using a spare key to gain entry, they encountered the unimaginable - both women deceased from gunshot wounds in what investigators now believe was a murder-suicide carried out by the daughter.
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes confirmed the preliminary investigation points to Sabrina shooting her mother before turning the weapon on herself.
Police Procedure Under Scrutiny
The incident has raised urgent questions about police welfare check protocols and whether more could have been done to prevent this tragic outcome. Neighbours expressed shock that officers missed the scene, with one local noting they'd seen police "walking around the house but they didn't go inside."
Paterson Police Commissioner Richard Berdnik has promised a thorough review of the officers' actions, stating "We are currently reviewing this incident to ensure all policies and procedures were followed."
The case has sent ripples through the community and highlighted the critical nature of proper welfare check procedures, leaving a family to wonder if earlier intervention might have changed this tragic outcome.
