Husband Killed Wife, Then Self In Jefferson Home, Cops Say

A Lake Hopatcong couple found dead in their home early Sunday morning was the result of a murder-suicide, Jefferson Police said Tuesday.

Julian Knott, 44, fatally shot his wife, Alita, 47, multiple times before taking his own life with the same weapon, according to Capt. Eric Wilsusen.

Officers found the couple dead in their Log Road home early Sunday morning after responding to a report of two unconscious adults, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said earlier. It has not been released who initially found the couple.

Aglaia Pikounis, a spokeswoman for Reology, Alita Knott's employer, said it would not comment and will not be releasing any statements regarding the victim's tenure with the company.

While Knott's LinkedIn profile still showed she was employed as a Children's Nursery owner in Dublin, Ohio, her most recent job was with Coldwell Banker in Chester.

Julian Knott’s LinkedIn profile showed he has been with JPMorgan since 2001 in a variety of roles, the most recent of which being Executive Director – Global Network Operations Center based in Whippany. He took over the position in January of this year, the profile showed.

Julian Knott, accused of pulling the trigger in both deaths, was heralded as a great person on social media before confirmation of the murder-suicide became public.

"I am in shock, such a great guy, a true gentleman," said Jessica Colvin on a Patch Facebook page.

"I worked with him and under him for only 2 years but that was enough to know a lot about him and his family. I am still shocked and cannot believe it," said Reyes Cham Ortega on the same thread.

The Knotts have a daughter and two sons, according to nj.com. Their daughter, Kayleigh, who currently attends the University of Arizona State University, lives in Tempe, Arizona, according to her Facebook profile.

Mike Pignataro co-authored this report.