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A photo of Patricia Monsell

Patricia Monsell 1953 - 2004

Patricia Ann (Murray) Monsell of Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, New Jersey United States was born on February 21, 1953 in Newport, Newport County, RI. She was married to James Francis Monsell, and they were together until James' death on March 20, 2004 in Bridgewater, New Jersey United States of America. She had a child Jason Monsell. Patricia Monsell died at age 51 years old on June 10, 2004 at Muhlenberg Hospital in Plainfield, Union County, and was buried at St Mary's Stony Hill Mausoleum in Watchung.
Patricia Ann (Murray) Monsell
Martinsville in Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, New Jersey United States
February 21, 1953
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island, United States
June 10, 2004
Muhlenberg Hospital in Plainfield, Union County, New Jersey, United States
Female
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Patricia Ann (Murray) Monsell's History: 1953 - 2004

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  • Introduction

    Patricia Ann (Murray) Monsell was born in Newport, Rhode Island to Donald and Ruth Murray. She had siblings Thomas Murray, John Murray, Connie Tamburini, Diane Valentino, Christine Blackadar, Sanday Murray, Lorie Hopeck, Jacqueline Desnoyer, and Colleen Galicki. Patricia Murray married James Francis Monsell (1951-2004) on August 11, 1974 in Plainfield New Jersey and they had 2 children: Jason Monsell and Jennifer Monsell. Patricia was arrested on May 14th 2004 and accused of the murder of her husband, James Francis Monsell, who was co-owner with her of the Four Seasons Ski and Snowboards Shop in Green Brook, New Jersey. Their son, Jason Monsell, age 24, had been arrested the previous day for possession of 99 packets of heroin and had allegedly told authorities that his mother tried for several months to have her husband killed. Authorities said Jason Monsell bought the illegal drugs with the money his mother had given to him to hire a contract killer. A week after his arrest, Jason was also charged in the murder of his father. He reportedly told authorities his mother said she "couldn't take it any longer" and that "today was the day." Authorities say that Patricia first tried to get Jason to shoot his father while he was in bed asleep. When Jason refused, she sent him outside to run a power washer in the front of the house in order to mask the gun shots. Then Patricia shot her husband 4 times in the head and chest. Jason stated that he then ransacked the house to make it appear that there was a robbery. He and his mother met his sister at a mall to see the 2004 movie "Taking Lives" and after they returned home, Patricia reported the death of her husband and the children's father. A complete account of the crime can be found at Wife Charged in slaying of Bridgewater merchant. After Patricia was arrested, she was released on $1 million bail and soon committed suicide by taking a drug overdose while at her parent's house. Several suicide notes were found nearby. She died on June 10th, 5 days after taking the pills. The murder case against her was dropped after her death. Jason was arrested two days after his mother's burial and sentenced to 15 years in state prison. His attorney read a statement which read, in part: "I want to apologize for all the hurt and pain this tragedy has caused my entire family." His 27 year old sister, who took up running the family business, was in attendance. Both of his parents were, of course, dead and he had no other siblings. In Patricia's obituary Patricia Monsell: Obituary, the family asked that donations in her name be made to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. A more compete obituary appeared here: Patricia Monsell, 51, loving mother.
  • 02/21
    1953

    Birthday

    February 21, 1953
    Birthdate
    Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island United States
    Birthplace
  • Ethnicity & Family History

    Patricia was Caucasian; the Murray surname - her maiden name - is Scottish or Irish. The Monsell family name - her married name - is English and Irish and has a Norman origin.
  • Nationality & Locations

    Patricia was a US citizen who was born in Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island and lived in New Jersey most of her life. She lived in Plainfield, Union County, and Martinsville in Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, New Jersey. She committed suicide at the age of 51, dying in Plainfield, New Jersey and is buried in Watchung, New Jersey.
  • Early Life & Education

    Patricia graduated from Watchung Hills Regional High School. The school is located in Warren, New Jersey and was founded in 1957. In the year 2017 - 2018, the number of students at Watchung was 2,076.
  • Religious Beliefs

    Patricia was an active member of the Blessed Sacrament Church in Martinsville New Jersey.
  • Professional Career

    When she married James Francis Monsell, Patricia was a secretary at Bell Laboratories in New Jersey. Later, Patricia was co-owner and operator (along with her husband) of the Four Seasons Ski and Snowboard Shop in Green Brook, New Jersey.
  • Personal Life & Family

    She was married to James Francis Monsell. They had two children, Jason Monsell and Jennifer. After about 30 years of marriage, Patricia became tired of their life and tried to solicit their son, Jason, to kill his father. When Jason demurred, she shot James herself. An article on her husband's memorial page at Wife Charged in slaying of Bridgewater merchant describes the circumstances of James' murder. While in jail, son Jason handwrote a statement about his part in the crime and what he thought about his mother. Read that statement at Jason Monsell's statement. Patricia was known to love golfing and gardening, and had a love for dogs. She raised chocolate Labrador retrievers.
  • 06/10
    2004

    Death

    June 10, 2004
    Death date
    Suicide - drug overdose
    Cause of death
    Muhlenberg Hospital in Plainfield, Union County, New Jersey United States
    Death location
  • Gravesite & Burial

    mm/dd/yyyy
    Funeral date
    St Mary's Stony Hill Mausoleum in Watchung, New Jersey United States
    Burial location
  • Obituary

    Patricia Monsell, 51, died June 10, 2004 at Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in Plainfield. Born in Newport, R. I., she lived in Watchung and North Plainfield before moving to Martinsville in 1984. She was a co-owner of the Four Seasons Ski and Snowboard Shop in Green Brook for 27 years. She was a parishioner of Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church in Martinsville. Mass was offered at St. Mary's Church–Stony Hill in Watchung. Entombment was in St. Mary's–Stony Hill, Watchung. -The Record-Press (Westfield New Jersey) on June 25th 2004 on page B2.
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4 Memories, Stories & Photos about Patricia

Patricia Murray Monsell
Patricia Murray Monsell
1974 photo of
Patricia Monsell that appeared in The Courier-News to announce her engagement to James Francis Monsell.
Date & Place: in Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, New Jersey United States
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Patricia Ann (Murray) Monsell
Patricia Ann (Murray) Monsell
A photo of Patricia Monsell from Find A Grave added by JabberJest. Taken around the time of the killing of her husband.
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Patricia Monsell Snapped
The television documentary crime series "Snapped" aired an episode initially on January 13th 2019 about the Patricia Monsell case. The description of the episode is "The murder of a New Jersey entrepreneur leaves investigators stumped... until months later, when a drug bust brings to light a murder plot riddled with greed, addiction, and betrayal."
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Patricia Monsell, 51, loving mother
This article was published at the time of Patricia's death. Ironically, the woman who solicited her son to kill his father was described as a "loving mother".

MARTINSVILLE - Patricia Monsell, 51, of Martinsville died Thursday (June 10, 2004) at Muhlenberg Hospital, Plainfield. She was born in Newport, R.I., raised in Watchung and had lived in North Plainfield before moving to Martinsville 20 years ago. She was co-owner and operator of the Four Seasons Ski and Snowboard Shop in Green Brook for 27 years.

She was a member of the Blessed Sacrament Church in Martinsville. She enjoyed spending quality time with her children, Jason Monsell and Jennifer. Among her interests were golfing and gardening. Being an animal lover, she also enjoyed raising chocolate Labradors. She was predeceased by her husband, James Francis Monsell, in 2004.

Surviving are her daughter, Jennifer, and son, Jason Monsell, both of Martinsville; her parents, Donald and Ruth Murray of Green Brook; two brothers, Thomas Murray of Westfield and John Murray of Dunellen; seven sisters, Connie Tamburini of Golden Colo., Diane Valentino of Watchung, Christine Blackadar, also of Watchung, Sandy Murray, Lorie Hopeck, both of Green Brook, Jacqueline Desnoyers of Watchung and Colleen Galicki of Green Brook.

A 9:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday at St. Mary's Stony Hill church in Watchung. Entombment will be at Sr. Mary's Stony Hill Mausoleum. Donations in her name would be appreciated to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, 45 Wilson Ave., Manalapan, New Jersey. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Sheenan Funeral Home, 233 Dunellen Ave., Dunellen.

- The Courier-News on Sunday, June 13, 2004, on page 42.
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Patricia Murray's Family Tree & Friends

Patricia Murray's Family Tree

Parent
Parent
Partner
Child
Sibling
Marriage

James Francis Monsell

&

Patricia Monsell

James's Death
Cause of Separation
March 20, 2004
James's death date
Bridgewater, New Jersey United States of America
Separation location
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Friendships

Patricia's Friends

Friends of Patricia Friends can be as close as family. Add Patricia's family friends, and her friends from childhood through adulthood.
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2 Followers & Sources
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