In the summer of 2018, the life of 26-year-old Darren Fordham Jr., a Black male from Somerset, New Jersey, was tragically cut short. On the evening of July 1, 2018, his body was discovered in a wooded area off Phillips Road in Franklin Township following a 911 call. An investigation by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office and the Franklin Township Police Department quickly determined that Fordham was the victim of a homicide, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
Authorities believed the act was not random and began to piece together the events leading to his death.
Detectives focused their investigation on the late hours of June 30, 2018, and the early morning of July 1st. Their work led them to the Hamilton Garden Apartments in New Brunswick, where they believe the fatal shooting occurred. The investigation revealed that after being shot multiple times, Fordham's body was moved to the secluded, wooded area in the neighboring town of Franklin Township where it was later found.
Within a week of the discovery of Fordham's body, an arrest was made in connection with the murder. On July 6, 2018, authorities charged 26-year-old Abubakaar “Diddy” King of Franklin Township with the crime. King faced a series of serious charges, including first-degree murder, desecrating human remains, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and tampering with evidence. He was subsequently taken into custody and held at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center.
