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Vineland teen charged in neighbor's killing back in Cumberland County jail

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A Vineland teen who got arrested in Florida while on release in the killing of his neighbor is back in the Cumberland County jail.
Zachary Latham, now 19, allegedly stabbed veteran corrections officer William Durham Sr. on May 4, 2020, after an altercation that began near the victim's home and ended in Latham's garage.
Latham was released on $40,000 bail, and was living in Naples, Florida.
But in January, he wound up in trouble again, when he allegedly brandished a firearm at another driver in Fort Myers, and then tried to ram the man's vehicle.
Latham was stopped with an airsoft BB gun in his car, and was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and assault with intent to commit a felony.
With that, the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office was able to successfully argue to revoke his release Feb. 4.
He was jailed in Florida, but Friday night, arrived back in Cumberland County.
Latham's release following a May 14, 2020, detention hearing was met with anger from the public, especially Durham's family, friends and fellow corrections officers.
Latham had allegedly been harassing Durham’s wife for weeks when he tried to run down one of the Durhams' sons with his car while the teen was biking down the street.
That led to a verbal altercation. Latham drove home and the Durhams followed him, sparking the fatal fight.
Latham admitted going into his kitchen and arming himself with a knife and stun gun when he saw the the Durhams coming, according to the charges.
Latham swung the knife first at Durham’s son, William Jr., and missed, according to the report. When the father then approached Latham, he was struck in the right arm with the knife.
This sparked an altercation that included Latham’s friends Moses Rios and Dylan Aristy, the affidavit states.
Latham at one point used the stun gun on Durham Sr., then stabbed him in the back and left underarm, according to the report.
Latham later admitted retrieving a second knife during the altercation.
Latham's wife, Sarah Latham, captured both the verbal and physical altercations on her cell phone, which was taken by investigators as evidence.
Since he's been gone, Latham was indicted for second-degree reckless manslaughter. Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae said her office "presented all applicable theories of homicide to the grand jury," including murder and they decided on the lesser charge.
She previously said her office "must respect their decision."
Latham also was indicted on two counts each of second-degree aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, as well as one count of unlawful possession of a weapon.

Thursday, April 25, 2024
STEWARTVILLE
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