Murder victim in Hopewell identified

The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office has identified the woman who was murdered in Hopewell Township on Tuesday. The victim has been identified as 37-year-old Laura M. Perez of Trenton.

A cause of death has been determined by the Middlesex Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, but officials said the information is not being made public at this time so as to not compromise the investigation.

Police received a call from the homeowner of the residence where the murder occurred just after 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday night. The Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Hopewell Township Police Department responded to the residence on the 400 block of Washington Crossing-Pennington Road. Upon arrival, police found a dead woman in the house. There was no forced entry to the residence and authorities believe that the homicide was an isolated incident. Authorities had to determine the identity of the woman and a medical examiner conducted an autopsy on Wednesday.

Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to call the Mercer County Homicide Task Force at (609) 989-6406. Individuals may also call the Trenton Crime Stoppers tip line at (609) 278-8477. Those wishing to text a tip can send a message labeled TCSTIPS to Trenton Crime
Stoppers at 274637.

Additional details about the case will be released when they become available, law enforcement officials said.