Crime & Safety
Long Branch Man Indicted For Strangulation Murders Of Mother And Foster Daughter
Brian Farmer, 59, is also accused of taking pornographic pictures of little girl, manufacturing and possession of child pronography.

A Monmouth County grand jury has indicted a Long Branch man for the strangulation murders of a city woman and her young daughter, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.
Brian Farmer, 59, was indicted on two counts of first degree murder in the deaths of Joan Colbert, 62 and her foster daughter Veronica Roach, 10; one count of first degree endangering the welfare of a child and two counts of third degree endangering the welfare of a child, he said.
“The endangering charges are related for Farmer causing or permitting a child to engage in child pornography, for the manufacture of child pornography and for the possession of child pornography,” Gramiccioni said.
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Farmer is being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution , Freehold Township, on $2.56 million cash bail.
An investigation revealed Farmer was at the home on July 30, 2014, when Colbert discovered him taking pictures of her foster daughter. A confrontation ensued, ending with Farmer killing Colbert and the girl. Farmer then fled the scene of his crimes.
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Detectives discovered pornographic pictures of the 10-year-old victim on Farmer’s cellular phone, which led to the the child endangerment charges. Farmer is accused of causing the girl to engage in a prohibited sexual act while simultaneously photographing the girl; photographing the girl while engaged in a prohibited sexual act; engaging in sexual conduct with the child; and possession of child pornography, Gramiccioni said.
An autopsy determined both deaths were the result of a homicide, and both victims died as the result of strangulation, he said.
Farmer faces a life sentence in a New Jersey state prison without the possibility of parole, if convicted, Gramiccioni said.
Farmer faces a state prison sentence of 10 to 20 years for first degree endangering the welfare of a child, and faces a state prison sentence of 5 to 10 years on the second degree charge for the same offense. He faces a state prison sentence of three to five years on each of the third-degree endangering the welfare of a child charges.
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