Arrest Made in Long Branch Double Murder

A suspect is arrested in the double-homicide of a Long Branch couple. 22-year-old city resident Carlos Menjivar was charged with two counts of first degree murder and a weapons count Wednesday, December, 17th for the deaths of Maria Catejo-Munoz and Fredis Ventura in 2013.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said in a press release that "Menjivar was arrested following a joint investigation by this Office's Major Crimes Bureau with the Long Branch Police Department and Monmouth County Sheriff's Office. The investigation began after Maria Catejo-Munoz, 35, of Long Branch, was reported missing around noon Sunday, March 24, prompting a search for here whereabouts. The search led Long Branch Police to the Sairs Avenue apartment of Fredis O. Venture, 33, who was romantically involved with Cotejo-Munoz, around 4 p.m. on March 25, 2013. The pair were discovered dead inside the apartment."

If convicted of Murder, Menjivar faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. He's currently being held in the Monmouth County Jail on $2 million dollars bail. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Major Crimes Bureau at 1-800-533-7443.