Man charged in Long Branch double homicide Had previous criminal history of sexual assault

Brian Farmer, 58, a life-long resident of Long Branch, was charged with strangling his 62-year-old cousin Joan Colbert, and her 10-year-old foster daughter Veronica Roach, after Colbert allegedly caught Farmer taking pornographic pictures of the young girl.

Brian Farmer charged

Farmer was arrested and charged Wednesday evening with two counts of first-degree murder for allegedly strangling Joan Colbert and her 10-year-old foster daughter Veronica Roach to death, the prosecutor’s office said. Farmer was also charged with 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.

Previous Criminal History

As details begin to emerge on the case, it is being revealed Farmer had previous criminal history and faced life in prison for sexual assault.

Farmer faced life in prison after he was convicted in 1995 of aggravated assault, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated arson. He sexually assaulted the 15-year-old daughter of his girlfriend. Armed with a knife, he held the girlfriend and her daughter prisoner in the basement of their Long Branch home on North Fifth Avenue, while he beat both them both and sexually assaulted the girl, according to his 27-count indictment.

Police said that he terrorized the mother and daughter and threatened to burn down the house. The girlfriend managed to free herself and called police. Farmer fled, then returned to burn down the house before fleeing again. A three-week nationwide search ended when he was found at the Matawan train station and taken into custody.

According to the state Department of Correction’s website, Farmer served three concurrent sentences in prison from May 31, 1996 until Oct. 20, 2009. He was sentenced to two 10-year sentences and a 15-year sentence for his crimes.

His criminal history dates back to 1974 and includes multiple assaults. He served five years in prison after he was convicted in 1984 of first-degree sexual assault in Long Branch.

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Farmer is accused of causing Veronica Roach 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, the prosecutor’s office said. If convicted of both charges of first-degree murder, Farmer could be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Brian Farmer was arrested and lodged in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold Township on $2.5 million cash-only bail as set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Francis J. Vernoia.