Fugitive Wanted In Franklin Homicide Captured In Philly

FRANKLIN, NJ — A fugitive wanted in connection with a homicide in Franklin Township in December 2023 has been captured in Philadelphia, announce Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr., and Franklin Township Public Safety Director Quovella M. Maeweather.

On March 12, 2024, Daniel Matthews, 44, of Schroeders Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, was arrested in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by the Philadelphia Police Department without incident.

Matthews is the second person to be arrested in relation to the homicide of Franklin Township resident, Artis Young, 46, on Dec. 29, 2023.

Andrew Mumby, 47, of Remsen Avenue, New Brunswick was previously arrested in relation to this homicide on Feb. 7.

At around 6:23 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, Franklin Township Police Department got a missing person report from a family member regarding Artis Young. The family reported Young was last seen on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023.

Detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department began an investigation and found that Young had plans to meet with Matthews in Franklin Township on Dec. 29, 2023, said authorities.

During the early morning hours of Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, Young was found dead in Brooklyn, New York.

An autopsy conducted by the New York State Regional Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the manner of Young’s death as homicide.

The Franklin Township Police Department detectives initiated a homicide investigation along with detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Crime Scene Investigation Unit.

As a result of this investigation, Mumby and Matthews were identified as suspects in the death of Artis Young, said McDonald.

Matthews was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree disturbing or desecrating human remains, second-degree conspiracy to disturb or desecrate human remains, third-degree hindering prosecution and third-degree hindering the prosecution of another.

Matthews was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing in the matter.

Mumby was previously arrested on Feb. 7, in New Brunswick without incident and charged with first-degree murder, second-degree disturbing or desecrating human remains, second-degree conspiracy to disturb or desecrate human remains, third-degree hindering prosecution and third-degree hindering the prosecution of another.

Mumby was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a court hearing in the matter.

McDonald thanked detectives from the New York Police Department, 75 th Precinct, police officers from the Philadelphia Police Department, 24 th District and agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Newark Field Office – Branchburg RA, for their help with this investigation.

Anyone with information relating to this homicide is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-
888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept
confidential.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.