Arrest made in Long Branch double murder

The cousin of the Long Branch woman found dead in her apartment, along with her 10-year-old foster daughter, has been charged with their murder.

Kevin Farmer (Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office)

Brian Farmer, 58, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the August 1 death of Joan Colbert, 62, and her 10-year-old foster daughter Veronica Roach, according to a statement from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

Farmer, who was released from East Jersey State Prison in 2009 after serving 13 years for assault, aggravated sexual assault and arson, made his first court appearance at the Monmouth County Courthouse on Thursday afternoon.

Farmer faces child pornography charges after detectives found pornographic pictures of Roach on his cell phone. He 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.

Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said Colbert discovered Farmer taking pornographic pictures of Roach inside her Lippincott Avenue home.

Joan Colbert (L) and Veronica Roach (Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office)

The two had a confrontation, which ended with Farmer strangling both and leaving the apartment.

Farmer is currently being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold Township.

If convicted of both charges of first degree murder, Farmer faces a New Jersey state prison sentence of life without the possibility of parole according to Gramiccioni.

Anyone with additional information about the murders should contact the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office at 732-577-8700 or Long Branch Police at 732-222-1000.