Cousin charged with murder of Joan Colbert and Veronica Roach

A suspect has been arrested in the double homicide case of Joan Colbert and Veronica Roach.

A 58-year-old city man has been charged with killing Joan Colbert and her 10-year-old foster daughter Veronica Roach who were found strangled after Colbert allegedly caught him taking pornographic images of the young girl, authorities said.

Brian Farmer of John Street in Long Branch, was charged Wednesday evening with two counts of first-degree murder for allegedly strangling his 62-year-old cousin 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.

Joan Colbert, and Veronica Roach were found unresponsive in their Lippincott Avenue home on August 1st by a relative.

A joint 13-day investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Long Branch Police Department revealed Farmer was at the home on July 30, at which time Colbert discovered him taking taking pornographic photographs of 10-year-old Veronica Roach, the prosecutor’s office said.

A confrontation ensued, which ended with Farmer killing Colbert and the girl before fleeing the scene, authorities said.

Detectives discovered pornographic pictures of Roach on Farmer’s cellular phone prompting the child endangerment charges, the prosecutor’s office said.

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, 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.

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.

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.