Indictments issued in 2014 Long Branch Double Murder

Veronica Roach

Joan Colbert

Brian Farmer, 59, the registered sex offender arrested for the double strangulation murders of his cousin Joan Colbert, 62, and her 10 year old foster daughter Veronica Roach in August of 2014, was indicted on six charges by a Monmouth County Grand Jury on November 30th, according to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

The grand jury charged Farmer with first degree Murder for causing the death of Colbert and Roach, one count of first degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, one count of second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child and two counts of third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The Endangering charges are related to Farmer causing or permitting a child to engage in child pornography, for the manufacture of child pornography and for the possession of child pornography.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Long Branch Roommates Busted For Drugs, Weapons

Robert Stohlin, facebook photo

4,000 bags of heroin, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, marijuana, drug distribution paraphernalia, $8,000 in cash,a .22 caliber handgun, 9mm replica handgun and several knives were seized on Thursday when the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office’s Gang Bureau and the Long Branch Police Street Crimes Unit arrested Robert Strohlin, 46, of 177 West End Ave,  and his roommate Syr Berry, 47, according to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Strohlin and Berry’s arrests was part of a months-long investigation into illegal drug distribution in Long Branch.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Former Long Branch city worker gets $500K to settle suit, report says

A former Long Branch employee who said she was harassed and later fired for reporting financial shenanigans has settled her lawsuit against the city for $500,000, according to a report. Julie Juliano Acerra alleged she was threatened and bullied before being fired in 2011 for blowing the whistle on a superior’s improperly cashed out sick days.… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Long Branch Fire Victims Suffered Gunshot Wounds

photo via facebook

The four bodies recovered from the two alarm fire in Long Branch on Tuesday each suffered gunshot wounds, according to a statement released this morning by Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

While it appears that Lyndon “Shane” Beharry, 35, shot his sons Brandon Beharry, 7, and Brian Beharry, 4, and their mother, Amanda Morris, 29, before setting the fire and shooting himself, the investigation is ongoing and the cause of the mother and boys’ death has yet to be official determined by the Middlesex County Coroner’s Office*.  Ms. Morris and her sons’ death have been ruled homicides.   Shane Beharry’s death was the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Long Branch police and firefighters responded to multiple 911 calls at 11:48 p.m. reporting a fire at 245 Joline Avenue in the city. Once on scene, Long Branch fire officials elevated the fire to a two-alarm fire and requested assistance from additional fire companies from West Long Branch, Sea Bright, Oakhurst, Oceanport and Eatontown.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Murder-suicide suspected after family pulled from burning home, authorities say

LONG BRANCH — The fire in a Long Branch home where a family of four was found does not appear to be accidental, authorities said. All four family members — the father, Lyndon Beharry, 35; mother, Amanda Morris, 29, and their two children — Brandon Beharry, 7, and 4-year-old Brian –have all died, according to the… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Long Branch house fire kills 3

LONG BRANCH — Three members of a family were killed in a late-night house fire in Long Branch, according to reports. The fire broke out shortly before midnight Wednesday at a home on Joline Avenue, according to a report on WABC-7’s website. Firefighters had trouble reaching the trapped family as thy battled heavy smoke and flames,… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Donald Trump makes campaign appearance at Jersey Shore

TRENTON — Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump brought his campaign to the Jersey Shore on Sunday, according to a report by the New York Times. But it wasn’t a massive rally like the one the billionaire businessman held in Alabama on Friday. It was a meet-and-greet at the Long Branch seaside home of Seryl and Charles… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Long Branch Drug Dealer Gets 50 years

Anthony “Nygee” Stevenson, a 48 year old Long Branch restaurateur , was sentenced to 50 years in state prison today by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge John T. Mullaney, Jr, according to a statement by Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christoper J. Gramiccioni.

Stevenson was convicted by a Monmouth County Jury in May on 91 counts of selling drugs and guns out of his Long Branch restaurant,  Christabell’s American Soul Food Restaurant.  He has been incarcerated at the Monmouth County Correction Insitution since his August 1, 2011 arrest, according to the Sheriff’s Office website.  He will be eligible for parole in 26 years.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Bottles thrown at officers trying to disperse large crowd in Asbury Park, police say

ASBURY PARK — A police officer sustained minor injuries after he was hit by a bottle while trying to disperse a large crowd in the city Thursday night. Police responded to the 10 block of Borden Avenue at 11:20 p.m. for a report of a large crowd in the area due to a party at a… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Long Branch shooting victim in stable condition, authorities say

LONG BRANCH – A township man remains hospitalized in stable condition Thursday after he was shot Wednesday night on Coleman Avenue, authorities said. At approximately 9:10 p.m., Long Branch police responded to the 100 block of Coleman Avenue for a report of shots fired, said Charles Webster, a spokesman for the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. When… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet