FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, NJ (Somerset County) – Authorities have announced the second arrest in relation to the homicide of Artis Young, 46, which occurred in Franklin Township in December 2023.
On Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, at around 6:23 p.m., Franklin Township police received a missing person report from a family member regarding Young of Franklin Township. The family reported that he was last seen on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, McDonald said.
Detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department initiated an investigation into the whereabouts of Young and determined that Young had plans to meet with Daniel Matthews, 44, of Brooklyn, New York in Franklin Township on Dec. 29, 2023, McDonald said.
During the early morning hours of Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, an unidentified male was found dead in Brooklyn. Subsequently, New York authorities identified the male as Young, McDonald said.
On Jan. 3, 2024, once his identification was made, Franklin Township Police Department detectives were notified by detectives from the New York Police Department of Young’s death, McDonald said.
An autopsy was conducted by the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office which ruled the manner of Young’s death as homicide, McDonald said.
As a result of this investigation, Andrew Mumby, 47, of New Brunswick and Matthews were identified as suspects in the death of Young which occurred in Franklin Township, McDonald said.
On Wednesday, Feb. 7, Mumby was arrested in New Brunswick without incident and charged with first-degree murder, second-degree disturbing or desecrating human remains, second-degree conspiracy to disturb or desecrate human remains, third-degree hindering prosecution and third-degree hindering the prosecution of another. He was then lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing, McDonald said.
On Tuesday, March 12 Matthews was arrested in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by the Philadelphia Police Department without incident, McDonald said.
Matthews was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree disturbing or desecrating human remains, second-degree conspiracy to disturb or desecrate human remains, third-degree hindering prosecution and third-degree hindering the prosecution of another. He was then lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing, McDonald said.
Anyone with information relating to this homicide to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 or via the STOPit app.
The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
