N.J. man accused of killing missing 5-year-old after her remains were found in basement
08/09/2022 12:04 pm PDT
PERTH AMBOY, N.J. (TCD) -- A 29-year-old man was recently charged with murder after the remains of his girlfriend’s missing daughter were reportedly found in his basement.
According to a news release from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, on Tuesday, July 26, authorities learned about a welfare check request for Monique Durham’s twin 5-year-old daughters, and as a result, an investigation was launched. It was reportedly determined that one of Durham’s twin daughters was missing, and no family or friends had seen the juvenile since 2019.
Upon further investigation, WABC-TV reports Matthew Chiles allegedly engaged in conduct resulting in the missing child’s death.
According to WABC, the missing child’s remains were illegally disposed of and discovered last month in the basement of Chiles’ home.
Child Protective Services was allegedly contacted twice, once in November 2021 and another time on Feb. 22, with regard to abuse allegations against the surviving twin daughter.
The mother was uncooperative with Child Protective Services from February through June of 2022, according to WABC. Then, in July, CPS eventually contacted police.
On Aug. 3, the Prosecutor’s Office announced that Chiles was charged with two counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, one count of second-degree desecration of human remains, and one count of first-degree murder. Durham was reportedly charged with two counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of third-degree theft.
The Prosecutor’s Office said Chiles and Durham remain held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center pending a detention hearing.
According to WABC, Durham and her boyfriend have a history of domestic violence, and Durham allegedly told a CPS employee she did not feel safe.
Chiles is reportedly not the twin girls’ biological father.
MORE:
TRUE CRIME DAILY: THE PODCAST covers high-profile and under-the-radar cases every week. Subscribe to our YouTube page for podcasts, exclusive videos, and more.
