FREEHOLD – A two-alarm fire inside a Long Branch home on Sept. 1, 2015 has been ruled a murder-suicide, announced Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Long Branch firefighters responded to multiple 911 calls at 11:48 p.m. reporting a fire at 245 Joline Avenue in the city. Once on scene, Long Branch fire officials elevated the fire to a two-alarm fire and requested additional assistance from fire and first aid personnel from Long Branch, West Long Branch, Sea Bright, Oakhurst and Eatontown fire companies and MonOc first aid.
The fire was quickly suppressed. Once the home was deemed safe to move forward with an investigation, a team of fire investigators from the Long Branch Police Department and Long Branch Fire Department discovered the four individuals inside a second floor bedroom. All four were transported to Monmouth Medical, where despite live-saving efforts all died.
Based on the joint investigation, it was determined Lyndon Beharry, a 16-year employee of the Long Branch Public Works Department, took the life of Amanda Morris and their two sons before he took his own life. The medical examiner ruled Mr. Beharry’s death a suicide caused by a single gunshot wound. The three victims are identified as: Amanda Morris, 29, and their sons, Brandon Beharry, 7 and Brian Beharry, 4.
The post-mortem examination of all three victims by the medical examiner’s office determined Amanda Morris and Brandon Beharry were killed by smoke inhalation and thermal injuries with gunshot wounds being a contributing factor. Brian Beharry’s cause of death was determined to be gunshot wounds to the torso with smoke inhalation and thermal injuries contributing to his cause of death. All three victims’ manners of death were ruled to be homicides.
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