An investigation and autopsies have revealed that a couple found dead in their Holmdel home on Thursday died as a result of a murder-suicide, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

The case background … 

Holmdel Township Police Department received a 911 call from a teenage male at about 1:20 p.m. on Aug. 10. The caller reported finding the couple unresponsive in the master bedroom of their home at 4 Paddington Court in the township, located within the neighborhood dubbed The Reserve at Holmdel.

Holmdel police responded to the residence where they found a deceased male lying in his bed and a deceased female on the bedroom floor. The male has been identified as 52-year-old Arshad Zarak. The female has been identified as 42-year-old Asma Hussain, both of that address.

Holmdel Police contacted the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and a joint investigation was launched into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the couple.

During the course of the investigation, police discovered a single firearm in the hand of Hussain, who was found lying face down on the floor of the master bedroom. No other weapons were discovered within close proximity of either of the deceased.

Autopsies of both were conducted at the Middlesex County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office on Aug. 11, revealing that Zarak died as a result of two gunshot wounds to the head and Hussain died as a result of a single gunshot wound to the head.

As a result of the investigation and in conjunction with the autopsy findings, it appears, at this time, Hussain shot her husband twice, causing his death, and then killed herself with a single gunshot.

Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the couple. Residents in the area have no reason for concern.

If anyone has any information to share regarding the investigation, they can contact Detective Patrick Petruzziello of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 800-533-7443 or Detective Andrew Kret of the Holmdel Police Department at 732-946-4400.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Red Bank Field Office, assisted the investigative team by providing translation.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office