A Bucks County man will head to trial next year on murder and kidnapping charges stemming from the death of 50-year-old Matthew Branning, of Perkasie, who was his coworker at Enchelor Inc.
Court records show Michael Stark, 49, of Doylestown, has a trial scheduled at the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas on March 4, 2024, on charges of first- and second-degree murder, along with multiple felony counts of robbery, kidnapping, and related offenses. Stark is being held at the Bucks County Correctional Facility without bail.
Perkasie Borough Police initially asked the public’s help on Oct. 20, 2021, to locate Branning, who they said was last seen leaving work Oct. 15, 2021, and had been reported missing by his family. Police asked the public at the time to keep a lookout for Branning's 2002 Lexus SUV.
Then, on Nov. 1, 2021, Perkasie Police added Branning's coworker, identified as Stark, in a second missing person alert. He had had also been missing since Oct. 15, 2021, police said, and may have been operating Branning’s Lexus.
During a press conference in December 2021, Bucks County
District Attorney Matthew Weintraub said that Branning was seen on surveillance
video Oct. 15, 2021, driving up to an ATM in Sellersville; a person was
partially visible in the back seat, but not identifiable. Toll and
cellphone data showed Branning’s Lexus traveled into Central New Jersey around
5 p.m., then south into Cape May, investigators said.
Police tracked Branning’s cellphone to the area of a Wawa in Cape May shortly
after 9 p.m. that night. Surveillance video showed Stark making a purchase at
9:24 p.m., but Branning was not seen in the video, according to police. After
that, toll information showed Branning’s Lexus heading north and then west on
the Atlantic City Expressway, they added.
Branning’s vehicle was recovered in December 2021 in Falls Church, VA, and
forensic evidence collected from the interior of the vehicle linked to Stark,
investigators said. Drug paraphernalia was also located inside of the vehicle
that was later linked to a drug market in the Kensington section of
Philadelphia, according to police.
In March, Stark was indicted by a grand jury, with investigators saying evidence pointed to Stark kidnapping Branning at the end of his shift on Oct. 15, 2021, forcing him to withdraw money from a nearby ATM and then fleeing to New Jersey in Branning’s vehicle.
Investigators said at some point during the encounter, Stark killed Branning and disposed of his body, however Branning’s body has not been recovered.
The case is being prosecuted by First Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Schorn and Deputy District Attorney Jovin Jose. Stark is being represented by William Penglase Esq., who is a former assistant district attorney for Bucks County.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.
See also:
Coworker Charged with Kidnapping, Murder in Death of Missing Perkasie Man
Bucks DA Joins Search For Silverdale Co-Workers, Suspects 'Something Happened'
Missing Perkasie Man’s Coworker Also Reported Missing, Both Had Last Contact on Oct. 15
