Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Mount Laurel Police Chief Stephen Riedener announced that an 84-year-old man has been charged with the death of his wife in what may have been a mercy killing, according to the preliminary investigation.
The defendant, who is accused of fatally stabbing his 82-year-old wife, turned the knife on himself afterward, but survived.
Officials said Dan Mook, 84, of Fernbrooke Lane, was charged with Murder (First Degree), Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Third Degree) and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (Fourth Degree). He was taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden after the incident, and remains there in stable condition.
The investigation began when officers from the Mount Laurel Police Department were called to an assisted living facility for a report of a stabbing just before 7:30 p.m. on May 15. Upon arrival, they found the suspect suffering from numerous self-inflicted cuts and stab wounds.
According to officials, his wife, Sharon Mook, was deceased when discovered in their bedroom.
An autopsy performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood ruled the cause of death to be multiple stab and slash wounds.
The preliminary investigation indicated the defendant killed his wife because she was in poor health and he was concerned that she was suffering. The investigation is being conducted by the BCPO and the Mount Laurel Police Department, with assistance from the Burlington County Medical Examiner’s Office. The lead investigators are BCPO Detectives Jenn Marchese and Melyssa Alonso, and MLPD Detective Thomas Corsanico. All persons are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.