Standoff in Trenton

2013 has not been a good year for the citizens of New Jersey. The state is still in recovery from the damages of Super Storm Sandy. And, more recently,  there was a standoff over the weekend. On Friday afternoon, the police went to a home in Trenton, New Jersey in response to a call from a family member of Carmelita Stevens. Stevens was not heard from for some time, and her two daughters were not in school for 12 consecutive days. The police received no response after knocking on the house door. They proceeded to use force to enter the home. Ralph Rivera (Trenton  Police Director) reported that officers on the scene immediately noticed  a strong odor "consistent with a decomposing body," as well as saw maggots throughout the house. The police discovered Murphy in a room with a dead body and 3 hostages (aged 18, 16, and 4) after following his voice up the stairs. Murphy told authorities that he was armed with guns and explosives. Through a window, Murphy could be seen with a handgun. After seeing that children were inside the house, the officers began sending food and water to them through a window. Hostage negotiators stayed in contact with Murphy on and off throughout the 37 hour standoff. At 3:45 a.m. Sunday, police confronted Murphy and rescued the children from the room. A single shot was fired by the New Jersey State Police that wounded Murphy. He died from his wounds in a hospital after being taken into custody. The two bodies discovered in the house were that of Stevens, age 44, and her 13 year old son. They were both killed two weeks ago. Murphy had an extensive criminal record that included aggravated violence and criminal conspiracy, robbery, weapon offenses, and child endangerment. Murphy was Stevens' boyfriend, but not the father of any of her children. The reason for the murders are unknown, and the case is still under investigation. More information of this case can be found in the article Mother and Son Dead in Trenton Home.