Conspiracy Charges Added In 2011 Home Invasion Murder, Robberies: Prosecutor

FREEHOLD, NJ -- Two people have been indicted on conspiracy charges in a trio of 2011 home invasion robberies that led to the murder of a Freehold Township man, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said Tuesday.

Ellis W. Goodson, 38, of Newgate Lane, Neptune and Ranu Sinha, 36, of Precedent Place, Manalapan, have been indicted on second-degree conspiracy in the three robberies at homes in Howell, Neptune and Freehold townships between May 14, 2011 and Sept. 8, 2011, and the murder of Michael Conway at his Jackson Mills Road residence in Freehold Township, Charles Webster, spokeman for Gramiccioni's office, said. Richard Busby, 58, of Pennsylvania Avenue, Newark also was charged under the indictment.

A fourth defendant, Jeffrey Mayhue, 52, of Pennsylvania Avenue, Newark, pleaded guilty to felony murder and first-degree armed robbery on Dec. 15, 2015, before Superior Court Judge Ronald L. Reisner, Webster said. The plea agreement includes a recommendation of an aggregate sentence of 30 years in a state prison, 30 years to be served without the possibility of parole, Webster said.

The first robbery occurred on May 14, 2011 at a Brickyard Road home in Howell. Mayhue entered the home with a handgun, bound the occupants and stole a large sum of money, Webster said. Goodson and Sinha have been indicted as accomplices on the following charges: first-degree armed robbery, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, Webster said.

The murder of Conway, 42, occurred during the July 31, 2011, robbery. Mayhue, who pleaded guilty, entered Conway's home, allegedly with Busby, armed with a handgun and looking for money and discovered Conway and his girlfriend were home, Webster said. The investigation revealed Mayhue and Busby killed Conway, set fire to the house and fled the scene; Conway’s girlfriend was able to escape from the burning house through a window, ran to a neighbor’s house, and requested the neighbor call 911, Webster said.

Goodson, Sinha and Busby have been indicted on charges of second-degree conspiracy, first-degree felony murder; first-degree armed robbery, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, Webster said. Additionally, Busby is charged with second-degree aggravated arson, first-degree attempted murder and second-degree certain persons not to possess a firearm, he said.

On Sept. 8, 2011, Mayhue forced his way into a Drummond Avenue home in Neptune, brandishing what appeared to be a handgun, Webster said. The robbery was thwarted by the victims, who held Mayhue until police arrived, he said. Goodson and Sinha have been indicted as accomplices on charges of first-degree armed robbbery, and fourth-degree possession of an imitation firearm for an unlawful purpose.

Sinha, Goodson and Busby are each being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold Township, in lieu of $1.5 million cash only bail, as set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Honora O’Brien Kilgallen.

Mayhue also is being held at the county jail awaiting sentencing, Webster said.