September 3, 2008: A Morris County Grand Jury returned a five count indictment charging Demetrius Diaz-Bridges, age 19 of Jefferson with:

One Count of First Degree Murder (purposeful and/or knowing murder)
One Count of First Degree Murder (murder in the commission of a robbery)
One count of First Degree Robbery
One Count of Third Degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose
One Count of Fourth Degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon

On January 30, 2008 at approximately 5:27 pm, a 911 call was received by the Jefferson Township Police Department requesting assistance at a Nolan's Point Road residence in Jefferson. Upon the arrival of the Jefferson Township Police Department, they found Elizabeth O'Brien, age 49, deceased within her residence.

On January 31, 2008 Morris County Deputy Medical Examiner Dr. Carlos Fonseca conducted an autopsy and determined that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.

The investigation revealed that at the time of the murder, the defendant, Demetrius M. Diaz-Bridges, lived at 150 Nolan's Point Road. He was a neighbor of Elizabeth O'Brien and a friend of one of her two sons. It was also determined that Mr. Bridges stayed at Mrs. O'Brien's residence at 120 Nolan's Point Road on the night of January 29-30, 2008.

On May 2, 2008 Detectives from the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, Morris County Sheriff's Office and Jefferson Township Police Department located Mr. Bridges in Raleigh, North Carolina.

On May 2, 2008 Judge John Triarsi J.S.C. (Union County) authorized the warrant charging Mr. Bridges with Murder a crime of the 1st degree and Possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose a crime of the 3rd degree.

Diaz-Bridges was previously held in the Wake County Jail where he refused to waive extradition. Prosecutor Bianchi initiated the Governor's Warrant Process and the defendant was brought back to New Jersey and was ultimately lodged in the Union County Correctional Facility.

Prosecutor Bianchi stated "I am extremely happy that we have been able to move this case through the system as quickly as we have. The Morris County Prosecutor's Office is committed to doing everything we can to bring this matter to a successful conclusion and bringing this matter to trial as soon as possible."

Diaz-Bridges is currently lodged in the Union County Correctional Facility in lieu of $1,000,000.00 bail.

A motion to retain venue in Morris County was also filed today with Judge B. Theodore Bozonelis, A.J.S.C.

If convicted of all charges, Diaz-Bridges faces a maximum potential custodial sentence of life without the possibility of parole in New Jersey State Prison.

Despite these pending charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following a jury trial at which the defendant has all of his rights guaranteed by the U.S. and New Jersey Constitutions and relevant state law.

This case is being handled by Assistant Prosecutor Leslie Wade, Esq. Diaz-Bridges is represented by Joseph Krakora, Esq.

Media Contact: Agent Robyn D'Onofrio