Brian Farmer, 58, is charged with murdering his cousin and her 10-year-old foster daughter after he was caught by the cousin photographing the child nude with his cell phone, prosecutors say. Credit: Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office
A man in South Jersey reportedly murdered a 10-year-old girl after his 62-year-old cousin, the girl’s foster mother, caught him photographing the child nude with his cell phone, according to the Monmouth County prosecutor’s office.
Police believe the murder occurred after the older woman caught suspect Brian Farmer taking nude pictures of the child.
Brian Farmer, 58, of Long Branch, New Jersey in Monmouth County, is charged with the murders of Veronica Roach, 10, and Joan Colbert, 62, Roach’s foster-mother, who were both strangled to the death. Their bodies were discovered in a Lippincott Avenue home in Long Branch, New Jersey.
Victim Veronica Roach. Credit: Facebook
Victim Joan Colbert. Credit: Facebook
“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,” the office of acting Monmouth County prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.
Farmer now faces murder and endangering the welfare of a child charges.
In a chilling note, Colbert posted a Facebook status wishing Farmer, her cousin, a “happy birthday” the day that she was murdered.
A Facebook status by murder victim Joan Colbert wishing her alleged killer Brian Famer a happy birthday on the day he allegedly strangled her to death. Credit: Facebook
Farmer is being held on $2.5 million bail.
He was previously arrested in 1996 for tying up a 15-year-old girl and her mother for three days, raping the teenager at knifepoint, and burning down their home after they escaped, ABC reported.
Farmer served 13 years on aggravated sexual assault for those charges before release in October 2009, and is registered as a Level 2 sex offender.
