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Sheridans son drug case transferred to Middlesex County

The Somerset County (N.J.) Prosecutor's Office has transferred to Middlesex County the criminal drug case against the son of Cooper University Health System's deceased chief executive John P. Sheridan Jr.

The Somerset County (N.J.) Prosecutor's Office has transferred to Middlesex County the criminal drug case against the son of Cooper University Health System's deceased chief executive John P. Sheridan Jr.

In a brief news release Monday afternoon, the office said it requested the move to "eliminate any conflict or appearance of conflict" between local prosecutors and Matt Sheridan, 41, who lived with his parents.

The Sheridan family and the Prosecutor's Office have been at odds since the deaths of Sheridan, 72, and his wife, Joyce, 69, who were found unresponsive in their Montgomery Township home Sept. 28. The house in Skillman had been set on fire, and the Sheridans had numerous stab wounds.

In March, Prosecutor Geoffrey D. Soriano announced that his investigation concluded John Sheridan stabbed his wife, set the master bedroom on fire, and committed suicide by repeatedly stabbing himself in the neck and torso.

The Sheridan family has said it intends to file a lawsuit challenging the conclusion about John Sheridan's manner of death, insisting both parents were murdered.

One of the sons, Mark, has said the Prosecutor's Office failed to do an adequate investigation. Two weapons were found in the bedroom - a carving knife used on Joyce Sheridan, and a serrated bread knife. Neither caused the stab wounds to John Sheridan, authorities said. That weapon has never been found.

The day of the fire, authorities searched several vehicles at the Sheridans' home on Meadow Run Drive, including Matt Sheridan's. Authorities found a small amount of cocaine, baggies, and a scale in Matt Sheridan's vehicle, according to a police report.

Sheridan was arrested and released on his own recognizance. At the time of the fire, Matt Sheridan was on a fishing trip with friends in New York.

Early in the investigation, Jack Bennett, a spokesman for the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, said the drug arrest was unrelated to the deaths. Authorities have five years to file charges.

Bennett on Monday referred all additional questions to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office. A spokesman there did not return a call seeking comment. Mark and Matt Sheridan both declined to comment.