Family's Deaths Ruled A Murder-Suicide: Prosecutor's Office says

A longtime Long Branch Public Works employee killed the mother of his two sons, and the children in a murder-suicide last Sept. 1, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni, said.

The bodies of Lyndon Beharry, Amanda Morris, 29, and their two boys, Brandon Beharry, 7, and Brian Beharry, 4, were all found in a second floor bedroom in their Joline Avenue home after firefighters responded to multiple 911 calls at 11:48 p.m.

Long Branch fire officials elevated the fire to a two-alarm fire and requested additional assistance from fire and first aid personnel from Long Branch, West Long Branch, Sea Bright, Oakhurst and Eatontown fire companies and MonOc first aid.

All four were transported to Monmouth Medical Center, where despite efforts to save them, they all died.

Officials determined that Lyndon Beharry had committed suicide with a single gunshot, after setting fire to the home. Amanda Morris and her two sons died of smoke inhalation and thermal injuries, with gunshots being a contributing factor, Gramaccioni said.

Brian Beharry died of gunshot wounds to his torso, smoke inhalation and thermal injures, according to the autopsy results. All three deaths were ruled to be homicides, Gramiccione said.

Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider said at the time that he knew Beharry, Morris and the children.

“He was very close to his kids,” the mayor said. ”I think everybody who knew him, liked him. This is one that is totally incomprehensible. None of this is making any sense to any of us.”