UPDATE: Fire That Killed Long Branch Family May Have Been Murder-Suicide: Report

by Patricia A. Miller

A family of four died early Wednesday morning in a Joline Avenue blaze that does not appear to be accidental, according to app.com.

First Assistant Prosecutor Marc LeMieux - who was at the scene this morning - said authorities are not ruling out that the fire was a homicide and potential suicide.

“This fire does not appear to be accidental,” LeMieux said.

The victims were Lyndon Shane Beharry, 35, a Long Branch Department of Public Works employee, his partner, 29-year-old Amanda Morris, and their children, Brandon, 7, and Brian, 4.

The call came in shortly before midnight. The two-alarm fire was under control by 12:30 a.m., Public Safety Director Jason Roebuck said.

The fire was quickly suppressed, according to a release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

“Once able to enter the home, firefighters from the Long Branch Fire Department discovered the four individuals inside a second floor bedroom of the home. All four were transported to Monmouth Medical Center, where despite life-saving efforts all died,” the release states.

The victims are identified as: Lyndon “Shane” Beharry, 35, - a 16-year employee with the Long Branch Public Works Department, Amanda Morris, 29, and their sons, Brandon Beharry, 7 and Brian Beharry, 4.

The cause and manner of death for each of the victims will be determined by a post-mortem examination by the medical examiner’s office. The origin and cause of the fire remains under investigation, but it does not appear to be accidental.

Anyone with any information is urged to call Detective Pamela Ricciardi, of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443 or Detective Rich O’Brien of the Long Branch Police Department at 732-222-1000.

All four victims had fire-related injuries and other injuries, which LeMieux declined to specify.

“It remains under investigation,” Roebuck said. ”It will be a joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and our department. The Monmouth County Fire Marshal will also investigate the fire.”

Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider said 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.”

Long Branch, West Long Branch, Sea Bright, Oakhurst, Oceanport and Eatontown fire companies, responded to the call.

To read the entire app.com story, click here.