Slain Hopatcong Woman Planned to Return to Homeland, Report Says

A friend and colleague of a Hopatcong woman who was found beaten to death inside her Flora Avenue home Wednesday said the woman had plans to return to Costa Rica after she retired from working in the Hopatcong School District, according to a news report.


Ligia Bolanos, who working at the Hudson Maxim School according to The Star-Ledger, was 56 at the time of her death. Her 30-year-old daughter, Mirna Bolanos, is accused of killing her with a baseball bat.

Ligia Bolanos' body was discovered in the hallway of her home when officers arrived at about 7 a.m. Wednesday, Hopatcong Police Lt. Thomas Kmetz said. Mirna Bolanos was outside on the front steps, Kmetz said.

Mirna Bolanos has been charged with murder and unlawful possession of a weapon and is being held at the Sussex County Correctional Facility in lieu of $750,000 bail. Mirna Bolanos would have to undergo a psychiatric exam before being eligible to be released on bail, the newspaper reported.

Ligia Bolanos was expected to receive a service appreciation award from the school district this week, her colleague told The Star-Ledger.