06.13.25
by

DETECTIVES IDENTIFY AND ARREST TWO IN ONLINE MARKETPLACE ROBBERIES

On Sunday, May 11, 2025, at 10:30 p.m., Officers from the New Castle County Division of Police responded to a reported robbery in the 200 block of Silver Birch Lane, located in the Amberwood neighborhood of Bear. The victim, who was selling jewelry through an online marketplace, entered a vehicle unaware that a second suspect was hiding in the back seat. Once inside, the suspects brandished a handgun and demanded the victim’s jewelry and cell phone. After obtaining the items, the suspects fled in a red Tesla.

On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at approximately 10:10 a.m., Officers responded to another robbery in the unit block of Peter Hall, located in the Foxwood Apartments in Newark. The victim, once again selling jewelry through an online marketplace, had arranged to meet the suspect, believing he was a prospective buyer. As the suspect examined the jewelry, a second suspect approached, displayed a handgun, physically struck the victim, and stole the jewelry before fleeing the scene.

Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Unit were assigned to both cases and linked them together. They identified 18-year-old Bruce Matthews and 21-year-old Jeremiah Whittaker as suspects in both robberies.

On Thursday, May 29, 2025, the New Castle County Police Department’s Active Crime Trends Team arrested Bruce Matthews as he was driving the red Tesla involved in the first robbery on Christina Parkway, Newark.

On Thursday, June 12, 2025, the New Castle County Police Department’s Fugitive Apprehension & Surveillance Team located and arrested Jeremiah Whittaker at a residence in Newark.

Bruce Matthews and Jeremiah Whittaker were both transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters, where they were each charged with the following offenses:

  • Two felony counts of Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony
  • Two felony counts of Conspiracy in the Second Degree
  • One felony count of Robbery in the First Degree
  • One felony count of Attempted Robbery in the First Degree
  • One felony count of Assault in the Second Degree

Matthews was arraigned and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution after failing to post $107,000 cash bail. Whittaker was also arraigned and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution after failing to post $208,000 cash bail.

Bruce Matthews-18

Jeremiah Whittaker-21