ryan coles
From left to right, Ryan Coles with parents Rosemarie and Edward Facebook

A 28-year-old man has been arrested after his parents were found beaten to death in their New Jersey home.

Prosecutors say Ryan Coles used "his hands and an unknown object" to murder his father Edward, 58, and mother, Rosemarie, 55, at the family house in an affluent suburb of Philadelphia.

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Their bodies were found in the couple's West Deptford home by another family member just before midday on Friday (26 August) after they were unable to reach them by telephone the night before.

Ryan Coles, who police say lived with his parents, was at the home, in Pennfield Drive, when officers arrived. He was charged with murder with bail set at $1m (£760,000).

The possible murder weapon was thought to be a chair, according to ABC 6 News.

Neighbours told local media that police had been called to the house before, and that Ryan Coles may have struggled with mental health problems.

After his arrest, he was taken to Inspira Hospital in neighbouring Woodbury for a medical evaluation.

A close friend of the Coles family, George Wiese, said the relative who found the bodies had described Ryan Coles as "almost as calm as could be," when he arrived at the house. He allegedly claimed his parents "were sick" before the relative checked for himself and found the bodies.

It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce the passing of our beloved Ed Coles Jr. Ed's gift of repair has...

Posted by Coles Music Service on Friday, August 26, 2016

Edward Coles worked at Coles Music Service in Sewell repairing musical instruments. A statement from the company, which Edward founded, said: "Ed's gift of repair has touched many musicians, young and old, over a 40 year period.

"The Coles Music family will continue his legacy and dedication for instrument repair and music education. We are deeply shocked and saddened by his sudden passing."

Lauralee Houghton, the store's current owner and a member of the Coles' extended family, said news of the couple's death was "devastating".

"He was full of life," she said of Edward Coles. "Everyone loved him."

An autopsy performed Saturday determined the couple died from blunt head trauma and their deaths were ruled a homicide.