By Matt Gray
NJ Advance Media Group
VINELAND, N.J. — The family of a corrections officer stabbed to death by a neighbor is asking for police protection after their address was posted in the comments section of a recent social media post made by the man charged in the killing.
Zachary T. Latham, 18, is charged with aggravated manslaughter in the May 4 stabbing death of William T. Durham Sr., 52.
The Durham family said Latham harassed them repeatedly in the weeks before the killing and accused their neighbor of luring Durham Sr. into the fatal brawl.
Latham’s troubling behavior has resumed since his pre-trial release from jail, according to Durham family attorney Diane Ruberton.
A Durham family friend who has been vocal about the case said Latham has been harassing him via social media.
The Durhams’ home address was revealed in the comments section of one of Latham’s TikTok posts, but the identity of the poster remains unknown, Ruberton said. It wasn’t posted by Latham’s account.
While the post in question didn’t pertain to the case, Latham has repeatedly engaged with commenters talking about the case — including those who support him and those who condemn him for the killing.
When a commenter on another of his videos questioned why he needs a public defender when he drives fancy cars, Latham responded, “Why waste 50k when I have video proof? I could damn near represent myself lol”
After being called a murderer by another commenter, he responded, “I have licensed fire arm carriers in my house If my intent was murder they all would have died. He walked in my house with 4 people after I warned him.”
After learning that their address had been posted, the victim’s wife, Catherine, sought help.
“We have reported that to the prosecutor’s office and asked them to ensure that there are extra patrols and that Vineland Police were aware,” Ruberton said this week.
Police have since confirmed to the family they are increasing patrols in the area, she added.
The Durhams would like to see the person responsible for posting their address identified.
“We’re not sure who the person is,” Ruberton said. “The prosecutor has the ability to subpoena the account to find out. That’s what we would like to see happen.”
The family has noticed increased traffic in front of their house since their address was posted, Ruberton said. A car stopped in front of the home recently and the driver sat there for a while, only driving off when Catherine Durham came outside with her phone and began recording, the attorney said. Family members have also received several recent phone call hangups in which the caller says nothing.
While Latham hasn’t directly targeted the Durhams in his recent posts, they wonder if some of those commenting in support of him are the defendant himself using a bogus profile, or if he is asking others to weigh in, Ruberton said.
Trouble began in April when Catherine Durham told Latham to slow down as he sped on the street they share in a Vineland neighborhood. He recorded the encounter and posted it to TikTok in the first of a series of videos targeting the family. In one post, Latham promised to reveal the Durhams’ home address if a video received a million views, according to the family’s attorneys, who said he also encouraged others to ride by the home and rev their engines.
They described another video, posted a week before the killing, in which Latham is seen holding a gun. He commented on that post “that this is how you handle neighbors,” the Durham family’s lawyers said, adding that this video has since been removed.
Latham’s continued comments on the case shows his state of mind, Ruberton said.
“Most people, if they are charged with aggravated manslaughter, even if they believe they have a valid defense, would want to keep quiet and have their day in court, but not him,” Ruberton said. “He just keeps going on social media and antagonizing people.”
Ruberton also questioned why Latham hasn’t removed the comment with the address. The family has reached out to TikTok for help.
Durham family friend Mike Gallagher, who has been outspoken about the case and has been monitoring Latham’s online activities since his release, said Latham has been harassing him.
Latham sent him a message through Instagram in July saying “Why do you keep stalking my IG story nothing else better to do?” Another was simply “LMFAO,” while a third message was a kiss emoji, said Gallagher, who is a vice president with PBA Local 105, the union that represented Durham.
Latham also posted a screenshot of Gallagher’s Instagram page on his own page with the message, “When the guy who lied about you to the media stalks your story.” That post included Gallagher’s name and photo. He said Latham also called him a crude term in another post.
While he has not responded to Latham’s taunts, Gallagher said he contacted Vineland Police and the county prosecutor’s office to report the behavior.
“He’s trying to terrorize me like he’s terrorizing the Durham family,” Gallagher said. “I am very concerned about his actions, because the last time he acted out there was a murder. He’s not showing any remorse for his actions and actually he’s back to his old ways of posting on Instagram and TikTok without any cares.”
Gallagher organized fundraisers for the family and expressed disbelief when Latham was released from jail.
“His harassment of me is not going to deter me from being supportive of the family,” Gallagher said.
Latham’s public defender did not respond to a request for comment on the claims.
The defendant’s recent TikTok posts were made in Florida, Ruberton said, where they believe he is staying.
She said his movements raise concerns.
“In my opinion, the fact that he has so quickly left the state would cause concern that he may not come back to the state for court,” Ruberton said.
While he would normally report to criminal case management in person on a regular basis, his pre-trial check-ins are being done remotely because of pandemic precautions taken by the courts.
Latham’s release order doesn’t prevent him from traveling out of state or from using social media, a court official confirmed, adding that the prosecutor’s office has the right to file a motion to revoke his release.
Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae declined to comment on those issues.
The encounter that ended in Durham’s death began outside the Latham home, in front of the garage, and continued into the garage. Following a confrontation moments earlier in front of the Durham home, Durham Sr. and his two sons came to the Latham house. Latham, who had armed himself with a taser and knives, warned the Durhams to leave. The Durhams, who were unarmed, ignored the warning and a fight ensued. Two of Latham’s friends joined the fray as Latham’s wife recorded with her phone.
Attorneys for the Durhams argue that the Lathams were seeking “TikTok fame” by recording their interactions with the Durhams and say the accused should be charged with murder. Catherine Durham and her sons were both charged in the brawl, though no charges were filed against Latham’s friends.
Latham has maintained that he was defending himself, that the Durhams were the aggressors and that he was the victim.
He is next due in court Sept. 3 for a pre-indictment conference.
The Durhams recently file a notice of intent to sue Vineland, saying they repeatedly reported issues about Latham to the police, but no action was taken.
———
©2020 NJ Advance Media Group, Edison, N.J.