Authorities Identify Girl,16, Stabbed To Death In Long Branch

LONG BRANCH, NJ - The Long Branch man charged with the murder of a 16-year-old city girl on Saturday will make his first court appearance on Thursday, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

The victim is identified as Madison Wells, 16, Cleveland Avenue, in Long Branch.

Bryan Cordero-Castro, 20, of 4th Avenue, is slated to appear before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge James J. McGann at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13. He is is charged with first-degree murder, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and third degree attempted escape, the prosecutor said.

Both Wells and Cordero-Castro knew each other, Gramiccioni said.

Long Branch police responded to a 10:42 p.m. call reporting the stabbing at 284 Van Pelt Place, Long Branch. Wells was taken to Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, where she died at 11:25 p.m., the prosecutor said.

Long Branch Schools Superintendent Michael Salvatore said grief counselors will be available at the school for any students who need them. He did not identify the victim in the letter.

"The school and the entire community of Long Branch has been deeply affected by this tragedy and our sincere condolences go out to her family and friends," Salvatore said.

If convicted of murder, Cordero-Castro faces a minimum sentence of 30 years in a New Jersey state prison without parole and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, subject to the provisions of the "No Early Release Act, which would require him to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for release on parole. He would also be under parole supervision for five years following his release from state prison, the prosecutor said.

If convicted of the third-degree offenses, Cordero-Castro faces a sentence of three to five years in prison.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Detective Wayne Raynor, of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443 or Long Branch Police Detective Joseph Spitale at 732-222-1000.

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