Two more suspects charged in 2011 murder, home invasions

A female resident of Manalapan and a male resident of Neptune have been charged for their respective roles in three 2011 home invasion robberies, including one home invasion that led to the murder of a Freehold Township resident, Monmouth County Acting Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Ranu Sinha, 36, of Manalapan, and Ellis W. Goodson, 38, of Neptune, are each charged with three counts of first degree robbery, one count of first degree felony murder, two counts of second degree unlawful possession of a weapon, two counts of third degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and one count of fourth degree possession of an imitation firearm, according to a press release.

Sinha and Goodson were charged on Dec. 23 and in an initial appearance before state Superior Court Judge Joseph Oxley they were formally served with the criminal charges and entered pleas of not guilty to those charges, according to the prosecutor’s office.

A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Freehold Township, Howell and Neptune Township police departments led to the arrests of Sinha and Goodson. The Manalapan Police Department assisted in the arrests of Sinha and Goodson last week.

Sinha and Goodson are charged as accomplices to Jeffrey Mayhue, 52, and Richard Busby, 58, both of Newark, in connection with three home invasion robberies at residences in Howell, Freehold Township and Neptune Township.

Michael Conway was murdered at his Jackson Mills Road residence in Freehold Township during the course of the home invasion spree that took place between May 14, 2011 and Sept. 8, 2011. During the first home invasion robbery that occurred at a residence on Brickyard Road, Howell, Mayhue allegedly entered the residence with a handgun, bound the occupants and stole a large sum of money. Sinha and Goodson are being charged as accomplices to those crimes, according to Gramiccioni.

The second event occurred on July 31, 2011, when Sinha, Goodson, Mayhue and Busby allegedly committed the home invasion robbery and murder of Conway. Mayhue and Busby were armed with a handgun and looking for money when they entered Conway’s home and discovered it was occupied by their would-be victim and his girlfriend during the early morning hours of July 31, 2011.

Mayhue and Busby allegedly killed Conway, set fire to the house and fled the scene. Conway’s girlfriend was able to escape from the burning house through a window, ran to a neighbor’s house and asked the neighbor to call 911, according to the press release.

In connection with this offense, Mayhue and Busby were indicted by a grand jury in November 2012, charging the pair with one count each of murder, felony murder, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, aggravated arson, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and certain persons not to have weapons. Sinha and Goodson will now join Mayhue and Busby for their alleged roles in the robbery and Conway’s murder, according to Gramiccioni.

The third robbery occurred on Sept. 8, 2011, when Mayhue forcibly entered a residence on Drummond Avenue in Neptune Township brandishing what appeared to be a handgun. The robbery was thwarted by individuals in the home who held Mayhue until police arrived on scene.

In connection with that incident, Mayhue was indicted on charges of armed robbery and possession of an imitation firearm. Sinha and Goodson will now join Mayhue for their alleged roles in the Sept. 8, 2011 robbery.

The next step in the case against Sinha and Goodson will be the presentation of evidence to a grand jury in order to seek indictments against them, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Sinha and Goodson are both being held in the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township, on $1.5 million cash only bail, as set by state Superior Court Judge Honora O’Brien Kilgallen.

Mayhue and Busby are also being held at the county jail as they await further developments in the case against them, according to the prosecutor’s office.