Fugitive caught in NYC, charged with killing South Brunswick woman

A South Brunswick man was arrested in Times Square early Thursday, charged with killing the 47-year-old woman with whom he shared a home in South Brunswick.

Andre Griffith, 37, was apprehended at Times Square at 1:15 a.m. following a week-long search, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's office said. He's charged with murder in the death of Samantha Ross.

Griffith is being held in New York, the prosecutor's office said. Bail was set at $1 million, but it wasn't immediately determined when he would be returned to New Jersey.

ProsecutorAndrew Carey said the homicide was discovered Sept. 24.

“I applaud the diligent efforts of the law enforcement officers that led to the safe capture of the defendant, including those from the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Unit, the New York City Police Department, the South Brunswick Police Department, and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office,” Carey said.

Police entered Ross' home on Jones Drive and found her dead the morning of Sept. 24, Carey said. An autopsy performed by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office found she died of as asphyxiation.

Authorities urged anyone with information to contact Detective Eric Tighelaar of the South Brunswick Police Department at 732-329-4646, or Detective Craig Marchak of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-3254.