Cold case thaws as two Long Branch men indicted for 2009 murder

Justice is being served as a cold case has warmed up and two men responsible for a 2009 murder in Long Branch have been indicted.

Monmouth County Acting Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced the indictment returned by a Monmouth County Grand Jury against Christopher Willis, 31 and Jamere Williams, 30, both of Long Branch, on one count of first degree Murder related to the death of Norberto Nieves, 36, who was shot and killed along 7th Avenue on November 29, 2009.

Long Branch Police began investigating the homicide but their initial search for clues did not lead to any arrests.

Over time, as evidence came to light, the case heated up.

Investigators compared the new evidence to what they had from the crime scene as well as getting additional testimony.

It all led to the identification and charging of the the two men involved.

Willis was charged on April 22, 2021 with one count of first degree murder for his role in the death of Nieves.

He was arrested with the assistance of the United States Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force and has remained in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution since that day.

Jamere Williams is also incarcerated pending a detention hearing to be scheduled later this week in Superior Court.

If convicted of murder, Acting Prosecutor Linskey said that Willis and Williams each face a minimum sentence of 30 years in a New Jersey state prison without parole and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, subject to the provisions of the "No Early Release Act" which requires 85 percent of the sentence imposed to be served before becoming eligible for release on parole.

Williams and Willis would also be under parole supervision for five years following any release from state prison.

The case continues to be investigated by members of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Long Branch Police Department.

If you have information about this case, call Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Detective Wayne Raynor at (800) 533-7443 or Long Branch Police Department Detective Todd Coleman at (732) 222-1000.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Meghan Doyle, Director of the Cold Case Unit.