FREEHOLD, N.J. — Authorities say a New Jersey man who served 13 years in prison for aggravated sexual assault strangled his cousin and her foster daughter after the woman caught him taking pornographic photos of the 10-year-old.
Fifty-eight-year-old Brian Farmer is being held on $2.5 million bail on murder and child endangerment charges. He's to make an initial court appearance Thursday afternoon.
Monmouth County prosecutors say Farmer was in Joan Colbert's apartment in Long Branch when he was caught photographing Veronica Roach on July 30. Investigators say Farmer killed Colbert and the girl and then fled.
Detectives say they discovered the pornographic photos on Farmer's cellphone.
Neighbors say Colbert raised the girl from infancy.
Farmer was released from East Jersey State Prison in 2009 after serving 13 years for assault, aggravated sexual assault and arson.