UPDATE: Authorities Make Fifth Arrest in Fourth of July Hamden Homicide, Explosion Case

• Pictured: Maurice Wearing, 26, of West Haven, who was arrested Tuesday morning.

UPDATE, July 14, 11:30 a.m.

At about 10:55 a.m. Tuesday, detectives from the Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad and West Haven Police Department made the fifth arrest in the Fourth of July homicide investigation.

Maurice Wearing was taken into custody at Milford Adult Probation in Milford. Detectives transported Wearing to West Haven Police Department where he was processed and held on bond. Maurice Wearing will be presented in Milford Superior Court today.

Wearing was arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, second-degree hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence.

He was held on a $1 million bond.

Original story

A West Haven man has been charged with the July 4 murder of Edward Brooks, who U.S. State’s Attorney Deirdre M. Daly said was “literally blown up” in an explosion in Hamden, while three others were arrested and authorities are actively seeking a fourth person in connection to the homicide.

Christopher Miller, 40, of 59 Front Avenue in West Haven, was charged with murder and several other charges related to the investigation.

Also arrested were Miller’s mother, Deborah Miller; his girlfriend, Natali Martinez-Sanchez, and James Bryant. All lived at the same Front Avenue address, along with Brooks.

Members of the Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad, FBI, and West Haven Police Department announced the arrests Monday in West Haven.

Police are also actively seeking Maurice Wearing, 26, of 17 Kilborn St. in West Haven, in connection to the case. Sources told Mark Zaretsky of the New Haven Register that Wearing is the grandson of former New Haven Chief of Police Melvin Wearing.

• Related: Victim Identified in Hamden Death/Explosion Investigation

According to allegations contained in court documents, an explosion took place on Wintergreen Avenue in Hamden at about 11 a.m. on the Fourth of July.

Responding law enforcement located a deceased white male, who had been wrapped in plastic garbage bag material and bound by rope material, in a wooded area close to where the explosion had occurred.

An explosive-type device and debris were also located in close proximity to the body, according to a press release from Daly’s office.

To sign up for Hamden breaking news alerts and more, click here.

The victim, who was later identified as the 39-year-old Brooks, sustained three apparent gunshot wounds.

Investigators executed a search-and-seizure warrant at 59 Front Avenue after learning that Brooks had been residing with Miller at the home and that Miller and the other residents were subjects of an ongoing narcotics investigation.

Investigators seized numerous items, including pipe bomb making materials that were consistent with the materials found at the Wintergreen Avenue explosion scene, approximately 16 grams of cocaine base (“crack cocaine), approximately 10.6 grams of methamphetamine and narcotics packaging material.

Investigators also seized a surveillance DVR, which captured video surveillance from eight cameras placed around the residence.

Miller was already in custody on other charges at the time he was charged with murder. He was also charged with conspiracy to commit murder, second-degree hindering prosecution, interfering with an officer, criminal use of a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, criminal use of a firearm during the commission of a Class A, B, or C Felony, tampering with evidence and three counts of risk of injury to a minor.

Miller also faces a federal charge of possession of an explosive that had been shipped or transported in or affecting interstate commerce.

He was held on a $1 million bond.

Bryant, 64, was charged with second-degree hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence. He was held on a $500,000 bond.

Martinez-Sanchez, 29, was charged with second-degree hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence. She also faces a federal charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and methamphetamine.

Martinez-Sanchez was held on a $500,000 bond.

Deborah Miller, 58, faces a federal charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and methamphetamine, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, according to Daly.

“This case highlights that great work can be accomplished quickly when local, state and federal law enforcement work together,” Daly said in a statement. “I want to thank all of our investigative partners in this matter including the FBI, Connecticut State Police, West Haven Police, Hamden Police and our colleagues at the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Ansonia-Milford.”

This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Connecticut State Police, Hamden Police Department and West Haven Police Department.