Warrant reveals new details in case against Burlington man charged with murder
A newly released court document reveals the evidence investigators say led to a murder charge against a Burlington man in the death of a woman, whose body was found inside his home in March.
Cole Werhan, 28, was arrested Tuesday and charged with murder in the death of 26-year-old Janina Brooke Murphy, who was found dead at his home Claire Hill Road home on March 29.
According to a 23-page arrest warrant, state police responded on March 29 around 11:15 p.m. to Werhan’s Claire Hill Road home after Farmington police received a call reporting that a woman had fallen down the stairs and needed medical attention.
When officers arrived, Werhan was outside the home near the back porch. He had what appeared to be dried blood on his legs and face. He told police his name was Cole and that Murphy was his girlfriend. He called her Brooke throughout the investigation, the warrant stated.
Inside the home, officers found Murphy lying under a blanket on the living room floor. Investigators wrote in the warrant that she had signs of trauma to her face, arms, and legs, and was pronounced dead in the home at 11:53 p.m.
Werhan told the detective that he had started dating Murphy two months earlier, and that she had moved in shortly after. He said the two knew each other in college and recently reconnected, according to the warrant.
He told the detective that Murphy had become upset after looking through his phone and discovering text messages with two other women, and she had entered what he described as a bipolar episode. He told police Murphy “started smashing her head into the wall and eventually threw herself down the stairs,” the warrant stated.
Werhan claimed he went down the stairs after Murphy, moved her into the living room, placed blankets under her head, and called his parents, who then called the police.
The warrant said that detectives found blood-like substances “in various rooms in the residence, to include the primary bedroom, bathroom, hallway, stairs, dining room, living room, kitchen, rear entry door, deck, and driveway.” Detectives also seized Murphy’s cellphone, which had a smashed screen.
During Werhan’s interview with the police, the detective noticed that Werhan’s right hand was swollen and that one finger was injured and asked him about it. Werhan said he did not know how it happened and “that it could have been from trying to help Brooke [Murphy] after she had fallen,” according to the warrant.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined this week that Murphy’s death was a homicide caused by blunt force injury to the head.
The warrant also details interviews with Murphy’s friends and family.
One friend told police that Murphy Facetimed her while she was at Werhan’s, and the friend said: “She never saw her so intoxicated on drugs.” Murphy told her friend that she took “a bunch of Werhan’s prescription drugs,” according to the warrant.
Multiple people told investigators Murphy was not suicidal and was not known to be violent. Friends and relatives also said Murphy became increasingly isolated after moving in with Werhan earlier this year.
Murphy’s mother told detectives it was unusual that her daughter stopped working after moving into Werhan’s Burlington home. Her mother also said that Murphy stopped answering phone calls or texts from family after she moved in with Werhan, which was also unusual for her, the warrant stated.
“Her friends spoke very highly of Brooke [Murphy] and stated that her personality and love of life brightened any room she was in,” the warrant stated.
Investigators also reviewed text messages between Murphy and Werhan. The messages showed arguments over Murphy’s contact with an ex-boyfriend. Werhan’s contact name for Murphy was “Wife <3” and their last text sent to each other was on March 28, where Murphy said, “I love you so much baby.”
The warrant further outlines what investigators described as a history of domestic violence allegations involving Werhan.
According to the warrant, Werhan had previously been arrested in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and Connecticut in cases involving allegations of assault, unlawful restraint, threats, and domestic violence involving his father and other women who had dated him or lived with him.
The warrant also references additional women who recently came forward to investigators with allegations that they were physically assaulted, threatened, or strangled during relationships with Werhan. One woman told investigators Werhan threatened to kill her, according to the warrant.
Werhan is being held on a $5 million bond and is due in court again on Tuesday.
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