Decomposing Woman's Body Found In 'Hoarder-Like' Home By SWAT In Somerville: Prosecutor

SOMERVILLE, NJ — More details are coming to light following a SWAT activation in Somerville on Sunday, including the discovery of a woman in advanced stages of decomposition inside, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said Monday.

Somerville Police went to a home on Mastogen Drive just after 1 p.m. Sunday for reports of shots fired.

A resident said he heard what sounded like shots being fired from a home and saw a man run into the home, said McDonald.

Officers tried but were unable to contact the residents of the home until one saw an unresponsive woman on the kitchen floor of the home while looking through a window, said McDonald.

Authorities established a perimeter and called in the Somerset County SWAT team at 2 p.m. along with Crisis-Negotiators who weren't able to make contact with anyone inside. At around 3:15 p.m., SWAT breached the home where they found a man lying on the couch in the living room.

Thomas M. Shaulis, age 66, was armed with four handguns near his body, said McDonald.

Shaulis was immediately placed into custody by SWAT members and removed from the home.

Additional SWAT members continued to clear the home and discovered a dead woman on the floor in the kitchen.

The dead woman was in advanced stages of decomposition. Inside the home, authorities stated that it had hoarder-like conditions with an infestation of bed bugs.

Shaulis was taken to an area hospital for observation, where he remains. Authorities removed numerous firearms and ammunition from the home following a Superior Court-ordered search warrant.

During a neighborhood canvass, authorities saw two bullet holes in the outside of a home on Mastogen Drive near the Shaulis' home.

The Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct a postmortem examination to positively identify the adult woman and determine the cause and manner of death, as well as next of kin notification.

Shaulis was charged with second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose. Once discharged from the hospital, Shaulis will be taken and lodged at the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing on this matter.

Anyone with information relating to this investigation is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at 908-231-7100 or the Somerville Police Department at 908-725-0331 or via the STOPit app.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and tips will be kept confidential.

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