Harrisburg boy finds mother fatally stabbed by stepfather at home
Police light - responding to scene - Stock Photo

Harrisburg boy finds mother fatally stabbed by stepfather at home

Harrisburg, PA – A 13-year-old boy discovered his mother dead on the bathroom floor after returning home from school. Violette Pierre, 31, was allegedly murdered by her husband, Rocheny Clerge, who subsequently attempted suicide.

Pierre was found lying beneath Clerge’s body on Monday. Clerge was covered in blood and had inflicted a severe laceration on his neck.

The boy ran to a neighbor’s house for help, which prompted a 911 call. He informed police that there were frequent arguments between his parents and that he had left for school following a dispute that morning.

Clerge was rushed to a local hospital for treatment. Home security footage captured the moments leading up to the crime, revealing the boy leaving for school at 8:30 a.m. and returning later in the afternoon.

The investigation indicated that Clerge was responsible for Pierre’s death. He was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder and possession of an instrument of crime.

Clerge remains detained without bail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on December 23.

Shore News Network Staff Report

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.