Man found slain in apartment

No suspects have been identified in the brutal murder of a 53-year-old Long Branch man, according to authorities.

James Matthew Haymon’s body was found lying on his couch at his Grant Court apartment with wounds to his head. According to Monmouth County Prosecutor John Kaye, the preliminary coroner’s report showed that Haymon died of massive skull fractures.

"Despite the brutality of his death," said Kaye, "his body was positioned in an apparent state of peacefulness."

According to Lt. Patrick Joyce, police were alerted to the scene by an acquaintance of Haymon’s last Thursday around 11 p.m.

"It looks as though he was murdered right on the couch," said Joyce.

The time of his death is still under investigation.

According to Kaye, Haymon most likely did not give much of a fight since he was suffering from an illness and was disabled — a reason investigators believe there was no sign of a struggle.

"What makes this case so difficult," said Kaye, "is that so many people had access to his home. At least five people had keys to his apartment."

The case is still under investigation by the Long Branch Police Department and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. Authorities have found an object nearby that may have been used as the murder weapon.

According to Long Branch Housing Authority Director Michael Winnick, this has been the first murder in the city’s public housing in 15 years. "Haymon never came to us with problems nor did he create them," said Winnick.