Royersford Man Charged With Murder And Kidnapping Of Co-Worker

DOYLESTOWN, PA — A 49-year-old Royersford man was charged with first-degree murder in the October 2021 kidnapping and killing of a co-worker at the end of his shift in Silverdale, Bucks County.

Michael A. Stark is in Bucks County Correctional Facility Friday without bail on first-degree murder, kidnapping, and related charges. First-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

Stark is accused of kidnapping and killing Matthew James Branning 50, of Sellersville, Bucks County.

Branning was reported missing in October 2021 after leaving his job at Enchlor Inc., a manufacturer of equipment for water and wastewater systems.

In December 2021, Branning’s vehicle was recovered in Falls Church, Va.

Forensic evidence collected inside Branning’s vehicle linked Stark to the murder, investigators said.

Bucks County First Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said during a press conference Friday morning that the investigation concluded that Stark kidnapped Branning at the end of his work shift on Oct. 15, 2021, forcing him to withdraw money from a nearby ATM.

The prosecutors said Stark fled into New Jersey in the victim’s vehicle, killing Branning, and disposing of his body, she said. The victim’s body has not been recovered.

Family members told investigators in 2021 there is no explanation for Branning to travel unexpectedly to New Jersey, and it was out of character for him to not contact his family or miss work, where he had been employed for nine years.

Stark was arraigned Thursday night before District Judge Terrence Hughes in Levittown on first-degree murder and related charges.

The case

According to investigators:

On the day of Branning’s disappearance, although Stark failed to appear for his shift, he took an Uber to Enchlor and was waiting for Branning to end his shift.

The victim was seen on surveillance footage withdrawing money from a drive-thru ATM in Sellersville at 4:07 p.m.

Toll and cellphone data showed Branning’s vehicle traveling into Central New Jersey around 5 p.m., and Branning’s bank account was used at a gas station in Somers Point at 7:05 p.m.

Two hours later, Branning and Stark’s cellphone data was tracked to a Wawa in Cape May.

Stark was then seen on surveillance video making a purchase at 9:27 p.m., but Branning was not seen in the footage.

An employee at the store later said Stark bought a car charger and USB cable.

Branning’s Lexus is then tracked by toll information heading northbound and then westbound on the Atlantic City Expressway.

Hours later, Stark’s cellphone data is tracked to Needle Park in the Kensington section of Philadelphia.

Stark was arrested in April 2022 in Wayne County, Mich., for a warrant out of Monroe County, Pennsylvania. He was extradited back to Pennsylvania on July 27, 2022.

The investigation was led by detectives with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and the Perkasie Police Department.