New Jersey teens raise more than $69,000 for three orphaned classmates whose parents died in a suspected murder-suicide
- Four students in Freehold Township, New Jersey, launched the GoFundMe campaign for the three teenage girls on Tuesday
- The page had raised more than $65,300 from 940 donors as of midday Thursday
- Denise Bartone, 48, was found dead at the family's home on Monday morning
- Her husband Kenneth Bartone, 53, allegedly took his own life by jumping off Edison Bridge into Raritan River, where he was found Monday afternoon
A New Jersey community has raised thousands of dollars for three teenage girls whose parents died in a suspected murder-suicide earlier this week.
Four students in Freehold Township launched an online fundraiser for the girls on Tuesday, the day after police revealed their mother, Denise Bartone, was the victim of a homicide and their father, Kenneth Barton, allegedly killed himself.
'We wanted to put something together for the family because they’re in need and they could use the support,' Aidan Matthews, one of the four organizers, told NJ.com.
The GoFundMe page had raised more than $69,110 from donations as of 5pm on Thursday.
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A GoFundMe campaign for the three daughters of a New Jersey couple found dead Monday in a suspected murder-suicide in Freehold Township has raised more than $65,300 in two days as of noon Thursday
Four classmates of the newly-orphaned girls launched the fundraising campaign on Tuesday, the day after police revealed that their mother, Denise Bartone, was the victim of a homicide and their father, Kenneth Barton, allegedly killed himself. The couple is pictured above
Denise Bartone, 48, was found dead at the family's four-bedroom home in Freehold on Monday morning.
Kenneth Bartone, 53, had allegedly killed his wife sometime overnight before driving to the Edison Bridge spanning the Raritan River and leaping to his death.
The husband's body was recovered from the water Monday afternoon following a four-hour search.
The deaths are being investigated by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, which has yet to reveal details about how Denise was killed or the possible motive.
The children were not harmed in the incident, NBC New York reported.
The suburban home in Freehold Township where 48-year-old Denise Bartone was found dead under suspicious circumstances on Monday morning is seen in the aerial shot above
Kenneth Bartone's body was pulled from the Raritan River after a four-hour search. Investigators are seen at Edison Bridge, where the father-of-three allegedly leapt to his death
The deaths are being investigated by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, which has yet to reveal details about how Denise was killed or the possible motive
In the wake of the shocking deaths, classmates flooded Snapchat with posts that featured black screens with purple hearts in honor of the Bartone girls, whose names have been withheld.
The social media support inspired Matt Su and Sam Mueller to do something more substantial to help out the heartbroken children.
They teamed up with Olivia Park and Aidan Matthews, close friends of the middle Bartone daughter, and got permission from a family member to set up the GoFundMe.
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The description on the site says: 'On Monday February 4th, a tragic incident took the lives of both Denise and Kenneth Bartone—consequently leaving their three teenage daughters without their beloved parents. This unexpected and sudden loss was a devastating blow not only to the Bartones, but to the community as well.
'As classmates and friends of the Bartones, we are reaching out for prayers, strength, and donations for the Bartone family. Any donations will help alleviate this terrible situation and will directly go to the Bartones.
'Please keep them in your prayers during this challenging time.'
The four students at Biotechnology High School (above) set up the fundraiser as a way to help the Bartone girls get back on their feet in the wake of their parents' shocking deaths
The GoFundMe is intended to help the three daughters (above with their parents) cover living expenses and college tuition. The girls' names have been withheld to protect their privacy
In a matter of hours, the campaign had far exceeded its original goal.
'It's truly amazing, the support of the community,' said Matthews, a sophomore at Biotechnology High School. 'Everyone is very supportive of everything we’re trying to do.'
The students said the money will help the girls' cover living expenses and college tuition. The eldest Bartone daughter was reportedly recently accepted to Rutgers University.
Denise Bartone had worked as a marketing specialist at the Food Innovation Center at Rutgers and was a prominent member of the Freehold's education foundation.
A funeral for the mother will be held on Saturday at 10am at the Co-Cathedral of St Robert Bellarmine in Freehold.
The family has asked that donations to be made in Denise's name to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
For confidential support call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255
The Bartone family lives in this four-bedroom home on Koster Drive, according to records
