Long Branch Man Charged in Double Homicide of Woman, Foster Daughter

The cousin of a Long Branch woman and her foster daughter found earlier this month in their Lippincott Avenue apartment is charged with their strangulation murder, and is also facing child pornography charges in connection with his 10-year-old victim, announced Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Brian Farmer, 58, of Long Branch, was charged Wednesday evening with two counts of first degree Murder for causing the death of Joan Colbert, 62, and her 10-year-old foster daughter Veronica Roach. Farmer is also facing 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.

Farmer is being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold Township, on $2.5 million cash-only bail, as set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Francis J. Vernoia.

A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Long Branch Police Department was launched after Colbert and Roach were found in their first floor apartment on Lippincott Ave. on August 1, 2014. Long Branch police responded to the home around 5:22 p.m. following a report of suspicious circumstances at the address.

A 13-day investigation revealed Farmer was at the home on July 30, where he was discovered by Colbert taking pornographic photographs of the 10-year-old girl. A confrontation ensued ending with Farmer killing Colbert and the girl. Farmer then fled the scene of his crimes.

Detectives discovered pornographic pictures of the 10-year-old victim on Farmer’s cellular phone prompting the child endangerment charges. Farmer is accused of causing the girl to engage in a prohibited sexual act while simultaneously photographing the girl; photographing the girl while engaged in a prohibited sexual act; engaging in sexual conduct with the child; and possession of child pornography.

An autopsy was performed by Middlesex County Assistant Medical Examiner Dr. Diane Karluk ruled both deaths were the result of a homicide, and that both victims died as the result of strangulation.

If convicted of both charges of first degree Murder, Farmer faces a New Jersey state prison sentence of Life without the possibility of parole.

Farmer faces a state prison sentence of 10 to 20 years for first degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and faces a state prison sentence of 5 to 10 years on the second degree charge for the same offense. On each of the third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child charges, Farmer faces a state prison sentence of 3 to 5 years.

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.

Farmer will make his initial appearance in court Thursday, at 1:30 p.m. in the courtroom of Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Honora O’Brien Kilgallen in the Monmouth County Courthouse.

Anyone with additional information about this case is urged to call Detective Richard Chapman, of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-577-8700, or Detective Ross Zotti, of the Long Branch Police Department at 732-222-1000.