LONG BRANCH – After more than 10 years, a Monmouth Grand Jury has returned an indictment against two men in connection with a 2009 cold case murder.
On November 29, 2009, Norberto Nieves, 36, of Long Branch was shot and killed in the area of 136 7th Avenue in Long Branch.
Today, Christopher Willis, 31, and Jamere Williams, 30, both of Long Branch, have been indicted on one count of first-degree Murder related to Nieves’ death.
The initial investigation, conducted by the Long Branch Police Department, did not yield any arrests at the time of Nieves’ murder.
However, additional evidence originally recovered from the crime scene was compared to other physical and testimonial evidence recently obtained during the cold case investigation. This evidence has resulted in the charges being filed against the defendants, linking Williams and Willis to each other and to the more than decade-old murder.
On April 22, Willis was charged with one count of first-degree murder. He was apprehended with the assistance of the United States Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force and has remained incarcerated in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution.
Williams was also incarcerated pending a detention hearing to be scheduled later this week in Superior Court.
If convicted of murder, they each face a minimum sentence of 30 years in a New Jersey state prison without parole and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Each man would also be under parole supervision for five years following any release from state prison.
The case is being investigated by members of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Long Branch Police Department. Anyone with information about this case is urged to call Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Detective Wayne Raynor at 800-533-7443 or Long Branch Police Department Detective Todd Coleman at 732-222-1000. Anyone who feels the need to remain anonymous but has information about a crime can submit a tip to Monmouth County Crime Stoppers by calling their confidential telephone tip-line at 1-800-671-4400.
Charges are merely accusations until proven in a court of law.
