NJ teacher allegedly killed by husband she planned on leaving — as daughter tells cops she heard him ‘killing my mom’

Monica Morris, 51, was found dead near her family’s smoldering townhouse on the 100 block of Freedom Way in Erial, New Jersey just before 3 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Gloucester Township Police Department.

Monica Morris, 51, was killed at her New Jersey home early Tuesday morning. gofundme

When responding officers burst into the burning home, they found her husband, Jerome, 50, covered in blood and armed with a knife.

Just past him was her body, lying found face-down in their burning third-floor bedroom. Monica had sustained several fatal knife wounds to her throat and neck, police said.

Monica was a culinary arts teacher and a mother of four. gofundme

Two other unidentified adults fled the home unscathed. Jerome was treated for unspecified injuries at a hospital before he was taken into custody, according to police.

Jerome, who has a history of stalking, threats and harassment, allegedly snapped shortly after his wife told him that she wanted to leave the marriage, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by NJ.com.

Monica’s daughter said she heard Jerome “killing my mom” when she called 911 around 2:25 a.m., the affidavit said.

The daughter later told investigators that she heard screaming coming from the third floor, where her parents’ bedroom was located. When she went upstairs, she heard her mother screaming that Jerome was trying to kill her, according to court documents.

Monica’s husband, Jerome Morris, allegedly fatally stabbed her while their townhouse was burning. CBS

While the daughter was calling 911, she found a key to the bedroom and unlocked the door. Inside, she saw Jerome hovering over a bloodied Monica with a knife in his hand, according to the affidavit.

Monica was a beloved culinary arts instructor at Trenton Central High School and mother to her four children, according to a GoFundMe organized by her son-in-law.

Monica was pronouced dead just 30 minutes after her daughter called 911. gofundme

“Her compassion and generosity made her a role model to many, and her presence brought warmth and hope to those around her,” the family wrote.

Crystal Feliciano, the councilwoman at-large in Trenton shared a heartfelt tribute remembering her colleague, affectionately nicknamed “Nana.”

“I will miss yelling your name out in the mornings as you pass by my office, I will miss your tasty deserts that only you could make, I will miss our talks in my office or in your classroom when we would find a moment to ‘chop it up’ a bit,” Feliciano wrote on Instagram.

“Our school and community will never be the same with you no longer in it. Thank you for all the love you poured into our students and our staff. Thank you for your gentle spirit and for sharing your talents with so many.”

Jerome was charged with first-degree murder and third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Police noted that the cause of the findings in the ongoing fire investigation could lead to more charges against the husband.

The fundraiser, which will help support Monica’s four children, was just $5,000 short of its $13,000 goal as of Wednesday evening.