22-Year-Old Admits To Aggravated Manslaughter In Broadway Homicide; Prosecutors Seek 26-Year Prison Sentence Under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act

Thursday, March 5, 2026, 7:00 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

LONG BRANCH, NJ.- A Long Branch man has admitted responsibility for a fatal stabbing that left another city resident dead last year, formally pleading guilty this week in Monmouth County Superior Court to first-degree Aggravated Manslaughter in connection with the March 2025 homicide.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Wednesday that Nija Faust, 22, of Long Branch, entered the guilty plea during a hearing held Monday before Superior Court Judge Jill G. O’Malley at the Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold, New Jersey.

     The plea stems from the death of Eren Kurkcu, 35, also of Long Branch, who died after sustaining multiple stab wounds during a late-night altercation in the coastal Monmouth County city nearly one year ago.

Late-Night Violence On Broadway;

     According to authorities, officers with the Long Branch Police Department were dispatched at approximately 11:33 p.m. on Friday, March 7, 2025, following reports of a stabbing in the 200 block of Broadway, a busy corridor that runs through the center of the city.

     Upon arrival, responding officers located Kurkcu suffering from multiple stab wounds. Emergency medical personnel transported the victim to a nearby hospital for urgent treatment.

     Despite the efforts of medical staff to save his life, Kurkcu later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased on Saturday, March 8, 2025, officials said.

Joint Investigation Leads To Arrests;

     Following the fatal incident, detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Bureau and the Long Branch Police Department launched a joint investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the stabbing.

     Authorities said the investigation identified Faust as the individual responsible for the attack that ultimately led to Kurkcu’s death.

     As investigators continued to examine the events leading up to the violent confrontation, prosecutors also brought charges against Santana Rivera-Cosme, 21, in connection with the incident.

     Rivera-Cosme has since pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree aggravated assault for his role in the altercation.

Court records indicate that Rivera-Cosme is scheduled to be sentenced on March 17, 2026, in Monmouth County Superior Court.

Prosecutors Seek 26-Year Prison Term;

     Under the terms discussed during Faust’s plea hearing, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office intends to seek a sentence of 26 years in New Jersey State Prison.

     If imposed, the sentence would be subject to the provisions of New Jersey’s No Early Release Act (NERA), which requires individuals convicted of certain violent crimes to serve at least 85 percent of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

     Faust’s sentencing hearing is tentatively scheduled for June 12, according to prosecutors.

     At that time, Judge O’Malley will determine the final sentence after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defense counsel. 

Case Moves Toward Sentencing Phase;

     With Faust’s guilty plea now formally entered, the homicide case moves into its final phase as the court prepares for the upcoming sentencing proceedings.

     Authorities have not publicly released additional details regarding the circumstances that led to the fatal confrontation.

     Officials confirmed that the investigation was conducted by members of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Bureau in cooperation with the Long Branch Police Department.

Editor’s Note:

This report was written by Art Fletcher and is based on official statements released by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and information presented during court proceedings in Monmouth County Superior Court. All criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Sentencing decisions remain solely within the discretion of the presiding judge. Englebrook Independent News will continue to monitor this case and provide updates following the scheduled sentencing hearings.