By Andrew Martins, Managing Editor
A 53 year-old man from Hopewell Township is in police custody for his alleged involvement in the murder of a Trenton woman last month., The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office announced May 8 that Brian Sheppard, of Hopewell Township, was believed to be responsible for the death of Laura Perez, 37, in a home at 470 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road., Officials gave a more detailed account of how Perez’s remains were located during the evening of Tuesday, April 25, when Hopewell Township Police Officers initially arrived at the home for a stolen vehicle report., According to officials, the officers spoke with a resident at the home and the owner of a black Chevrolet Silverado that had gone missing while he was at work. While speaking with police, the resident said that his roommate, Sheppard, was not home and could not be found., During their investigation, the officers entered Sheppard’s room, where they found the woman’s remains. The prosecutor’s office has since revealed that Perez died of “significant blunt force trauma to the head.”, Officials said an investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force revealed that Sheppard brought Perez to the home before she was killed. He then fled the scene in the Silverado, causing law enforcement agencies to put out a broadcast for Sheppard and the stolen vehicle., Two days later, on Thursday, April 27, officials said the vehicle was located in Hamilton Township. As police officers from that municipality attempted to conduct a traffic stop, a high-speed pursuit through Hamilton Township, Lawrence Township and West Windsor took place. Officials said the chase was eventually called off due to the “high speeds and dangerous manner” that Sheppard was driving., The following day on Friday, April 28, Sheppard was apprehended and charged with eluding and theft by receiving stolen property. He was also charged with murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon., Sheppard is currently being held at the Mercer County Correctional Center in Lambertville., This is the first murder in Hopewell Township since the murder of Michelle Nyce at the hands of her husband Dr. Jonathan Nyce in 2004., The prosecutor’s office said that the Perez murder is still under investigation by the Homicide Task Force. Anyone with information is asked to contact Trenton Police Detective Scott Peterson at 609-989-6406.
