Man, 25, found dead outside Union home; $10K reward for info

Authorities in Union County are investigating a homicide involving a 25-year-old Maplewood man who was found dead outside a house in Union early Tuesday.

According to the Union County Prosecutor's Office, police responded to the Salem Road home just before 5 a.m. Tuesday. The body of the victim, identified as Matthew Murrell, was found in the yard and pronounced dead a short time later, authorities said.

The Prosecutor's Office has not yet released the cause of death of the victim.

Police say the homicide is being investigated by the Union County Homicide Task Force, the Union Police Department and the Union County Sheriff’s Office’s Identification Unit.

According to the Prosecutor's Office, Union County Crime Stoppers are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 908-654-TIPS (8477), or via text message by texting “UCTIP” plus a message to 274637 (CRIMES). To submit tips online, go to www.uctip.org.

Police are also asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Homicide Task Force Sgt. Johnny Ho at 908-403-8271 or Detective Rudolfo Correia at 908-418-5800.

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.