Drug case dropped against Sheridan son
The drug case against Matthew Sheridan has been dismissed after a Somerset County, N.J., judge last week tossed the evidence, saying the search of his Jeep on the day his parents died was unconstitutional.
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The drug case against Matthew Sheridan has been dismissed after a Somerset County, N.J., judge last week tossed the evidence, saying the search of his Jeep on the day his parents died was unconstitutional.
That ruling prohibited state prosecutors from using any evidence collected in the search, including cocaine and any statements Sheridan made as a result of the search.
Sheridan's attorney, Henry Klingeman, notified his client late Monday that the drug charge and case had been dismissed, and that authorities agreed that they would not appeal. That officially ended the prosecution against Sheridan.
James O'Neill, a spokesman for the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, confirmed that an appeal would not be filed and declined further comment. Jack Bennett, a spokesman for the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, declined to comment.
Sheridan, 42, of Montgomery Township, was arrested Sept. 28, 2014, as Somerset County authorities were investigating the deaths of his parents, Joyce, 69, and John P. Jr., 72, the Cooper Health System CEO.
Matthew Sheridan had been living with his parents at their home in the Skillman section of the township, but was fishing with friends in Connecticut when a fire was started in the couple's bedroom.
The fire had been set, and the couple were found dead, both with multiple deep stab wounds. The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office ruled the deaths a murder-suicide, alleging that John Sheridan killed his wife, set the fire, and committed suicide.
The couple's four sons dispute that it was murder-suicide, saying they believe both parents were murdered. The family has initiated legal action to overturn the suicide ruling.
On the day of the deaths, authorities searched Matthew Sheridan's vehicle and found a small amount of cocaine, baggies, and a digital scale with white residue on it.
Although investigators obtained a search warrant for the SUV, Superior Court Judge Yolanda Ciccone last week ruled that there was no probable cause to justify the search, making it unconstitutional. Ciccone signed the order dismissing the case last Wednesday and issued her opinion Friday.
In seeking to have the case dismissed, Klingeman argued that investigators had no reason to believe there was evidence in the SUV related to the deaths or any reason to believe they would find drugs.
Additionally, Klingeman alleged that authorities told Sheridan he would not be charged if he consented to interviews by law enforcement related to his parents' deaths. According to court records, Matthew Sheridan admitted to authorities that the cocaine belonged to him.
Somerset authorities had said early in the investigation that Matthew Sheridan and his brothers were not suspects in the deaths.
The family believes that Matthew Sheridan was indicted as retaliation after the sons accused Somerset authorities of botching the investigation, in part by ignoring evidence that suggested both parents were murdered.
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Staff writer Melanie Burney contributed to this article.