Trenton teacher’s death puts a face on New Jersey’s domestic violence crisis

Early each morning, before students arrived, Monica Morris, 50, a culinary arts teacher at Trenton Central High School, began her day. She prepared menus and ingredients, carefully checked the cooking equipment, and sanitized the kitchen.

For over 20 years, this has been Morris’ morning routine. So on the morning of April 28, the community was stunned when authorities announced homicide charges in connection with her death. What was even more disturbing was that authorities charged her husband of 24 years, Jerome Morris, 50, with first-degree murder and third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

Shortly after 2 a.m., police were called to the Gloucester Township home where Jerome Morris was allegedly found on the first floor of the residence, covered in blood with a knife in hand. The home had been set on fire, and Monica Morris had to be extracted from the residence. She had been pronounced dead at the scene. News of Morris’ passing sent shockwaves through the community, leaving those who knew her at a loss for words.   

“Monica had a way of walking into a room, and every student was smiling, just by her tone of voice, her mannerisms. Her care of the kids and her care of the people,” said Chef Shawn Harris. Harris had been Morris’ close friend for nearly 30 years, the two meeting in culinary school in 1990. 

“We had our first teaching jobs at Atlantic City High School, and here we are nearly 25 years later. We had planned to retire together,” said a distraught Harris. 

“Words cannot truly express the ray of sunshine she was to the TCHS family, especially the Restaurant and Business Small Learning Community,” said Trenton At-Large Councilwoman Crystal Feliciano. “I have had the honor of working with her for seven years as well as the privilege of calling her a friend.” 

Morris’ death highlights the growing number of domestic violence cases within the state. According to the latest 2023 “Uniform Crime Report,” calls to police involving domestic violence increased 5% from 2022. Between 2022 and 2023, it was also reported that there had been a nearly 15% increase in domestic violence incidents that resulted in a fatality. 

While Morris’ situation is tragic, unfortunately, it is not unique. In November 2025, Lamont Truitt, 35, was charged with carjacking, multiple weapons charges, and first-degree murder for the fatal shooting of his girlfriend, Alyssia Murphy, 32, in Trenton, New Jersey, following an argument. 

According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, “the presence of a gun in domestic violence situations increases the risk of homicide for women by 500%, and more than half of women killed by gun violence are killed by family members or intimate partners.” Truitt is currently awaiting trial. 

The deaths of Murphy and Morris underscore the brutal reality many domestic violence victims endure.

“There have been four Domestic Violence (DV) homicides in New Jersey since March 10th. All of them Black women; they all, maybe with the exception of one, reached out for help,” said Adrienne Gantz, Co-Executive Director of the Mercer County-based New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence. 

According to a 2024 study published in The Lancet, from 1999 to 2020, Black women were on average six times more likely than white women to be homicide victims, with researchers pointing to structural social inequities as a driving factor. 

“Our community will never be the same, but Monica’s Legacy of unconditional love and teaching excellence will live on with us forever,” said Councilwoman Feliciano. On May 6th, students and staff at Trenton Central organized a memorial to honor their teacher and colleague. Morris’ death is not an outlier — it is part of a pattern that federal data shows has been rising for years.

Sounding the Alarm

According to the FBI’s 2026 report, “Domestic Relationships and Violent Crimes, 2020–2024,” violent crime within domestic relationships increased over the five years studied. Law enforcement reported more than 11,000 domestic violence homicide victims and an additional 1.1 million domestic violence victims; nearly 75% were female.

While women are disproportionately impacted by domestic violence, men also experience abuse. “Men don’t usually report domestic violence, especially against women,” said Marc Warren, Chief Operating Officer of The Father Center in Trenton, New Jersey, a nonprofit organization that offers men the emotional, social, and economic resources to improve their lives and those of their children.

“Some misconceptions about abuse are that it’s only physical, which is not true. In reality, abuse can include emotional abuse, financial control, isolation, stalking, and sexual abuse,” said Natalie Nelson, CEO and President of Younity, a Mercer County-based non-profit. Another misconception is that people often ask, ‘Why don’t survivors just leave?’ Leaving can actually be the most dangerous time for a survivor,” Nelson said. 

According to Younity’s website, their mission is to “provide quality, compassionate, and nonjudgmental services in a manner that fosters self-respect and independence in persons experiencing domestic violence or a sexual assault.” 

Its website also indicated a rising need for its services, citing a 10% increase in hotlines, housing, and crisis response services.“We’re seeing more complex issues like financial abuse, housing insecurity, mental health concerns, and even technology-based abuse,” said Nelson when asked about the primary causes of DV. 

Domestic violence can lead to long-lasting harm to victims as well as their family and friends, who are often left with more questions than answers. “People who go through domestic violence are warriors; they go through a lot. A different mask for every person, a mask for the family, a mask for their job, a mask for their friends, and a mask for the next-door neighbors,” Harris said. “They’re strong, resilient.”