Indicted in wife's murder of 5 years ago

Wednesday, November 19, 2008
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A Hudson County grand jury indicted a former Jersey City man on murder charges this week - five years after his wife was found dead with a broken neck at the bottom of a staircase in their Port Libert? home, officials said.

Last Wednesday, a judge signed the indictment charging Carlos Branco, 49, with the murder of his wife, Dorothy Branco, 54, whose body was found by her son at the base of the short flight of stairs in the Shearwater Court residence, officials said yesterday.

Carlos Branco remarried about a year after Dorothy Branco's death, moved from the gated community and now lives in Clarksburg, officials said.

According to the indictment, on or about May 5, 2003 Carlos Branco "purposefully and knowingly" caused the death of Dorothy Branco, or "inflicted serious injuries to her resulting in her death."

Carlos Branco, who is being represented by noted defense attorney Michael Critchley, pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned Monday before Superior Court Judge Kevin Callahan. Branco later used his home to secure a $250,000 bail, said Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Michael D'Andrea.

D'Andrea said no 911 call was made from the Port Libert? residence on the day Dorothy Branco died.

Carlos Branco was not there when her body was discovered about 10 a.m. that day, but he was interviewed by homicide detectives shortly afterward. Investigators considered the death suspicious from the start, officials said.

Yesterday, prosecutors wouldn't divulge much about why they now believe Carlos Branco committed the crime or how he allegedly did it.

Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio called the case "complex."

"One of the key things is the testimony of the assistant medical examiner," DeFazio said. "We presented the assistant medical examiner as a witness (before the grand jury) for a more comprehensive opinion as to the cause and manner of death."

Critchley couldn't be reached to comment on Carlos Branco's behalf. The parties are due in court on Jan. 9.