FREEHOLD – A Lakewood man is charged with the murder of another man whose body was found lying in the roadway in Howell early Friday morning, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Juan Carlos Rivera Rojas, (also known as Omar Rivera Rojas), 29, of Linden Avenue in Lakewood, is charged with first degree Murder for the death of Domingo Merino Rafael, 33, of Seminole Drive in Lakewood, early Friday morning. Rivera Rojas is being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold Township pending his first appearance before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Paul X. Escandon on Nov. 1, 2019, and a Detention Hearing is also scheduled to follow that proceeding.
“This arrest was the result of outstanding work done by all the investigators from our Major Crimes Bureau and Forensics Unit, as well as the Howell Township Police Department, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Lakewood Police Department. The inter-agency cooperation could not have been better,” Gramiccioni said.
The Howell Township Police Department responded to a 911 call at about 3:46 a.m. reporting an unconscious male laying in Hurley Pond Road just east of Route 547. Upon arrival, a Hispanic male was located lying face down in the roadway. The incident was initially investigated as a fatal hit and run motor vehicle incident. However, upon the arrival of SCART investigators, it was determined the incident was not a hit and run event.
The man, identified as Domingo Merino Rafael, 33, of Lakewood, was unresponsive and obviously deceased. MONOC personnel responded and the victim was pronounced deceased at 4:12 a.m. by doctors at Newark Beth Israel Hospital. Rafael was taken to the Middlesex County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office where a post-mortem examination performed by Medical Examiner Allison Mautone M.D. and the staff of the Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death was a Homicide.
“My initial impression was this was going to be a challenging investigation. However, as it commenced it was obvious the tenacity of the officers involved from both my agency and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office proved otherwise. Together, they worked as a unified team, around the clock until this was quickly resolved. This is the perfect example of law enforcement working together for a dedicated purpose. I sincerely thank all the officers involved. We are ‘committed to community,” Howell Township Police Chief Andrew Kudrick said.
A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Howell Township Police Department determined that Rivera Rojas and Merino Rafael traveled from Lakewood to Middlesex County on Thursday evening and were returning to Lakewood shortly after 3 a.m. Friday when the pair got into an argument that culminated with the killing of Merino Rafael.
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Howell Township Police Department also credited the Lakewood Police Department and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance during the investigation.
If convicted of Murder, Rivera Rojas faces a minimum sentence of 30 years in a New Jersey state prison without parole and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, subject to the provisions of the “No Early Release Act” (NERA) requiring him to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for release on parole. He would also be under parole supervision for five years following his release from state prison.
Anyone with information important to this investigation is urged to contact Detective Kevin Condon of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 800-533-7443 or Det. Sgt. Peter Kuppler of the Howell Township Police Department at 732-938-4575 ext. 2245.
Anyone who feels the need to remain anonymous but has information about a crime can contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers confidential telephone tip-line by calling 1-800-671-4400; they can text “MONMOUTH” plus their tip to 274637; or, they can email a tip via the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com. Monmouth County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of criminals and fugitives.
The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Stephanie Dugan.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
Mark Tibak
Laura Kennovin Machnik
Ulises Rasgado no Lakewood! It’s a shit hole.
Green card fight
Marty Czerepuszko your childish
Who wants to take bets that he was a illegal immigrant?
Jessica Beatty who wants to take bets that the shooter who shot that 16yr old in brick wasn’t illegal or the father who was brutally beaten to death by his son in brick wasn’t illegal, or the chick who stabbed her fiance to death in brick wasn’t illegal or the murderer in manchester the other day wasn’t illegal. I mean what’s my point?? Trying to figure out yours..Crazies are everywhere no matter the background!!
So I guess the Wall would protect us from 20% of all crazies I like those odds?
Listen..calm your panties. I’m not racist, I don’t support some stupid wall, my family was affected by the bullshit going on with the shootings and such, I’m just saying the murderer was probably illegal. That’s all.
Jessica Beatty but what makes you think he’s illegal? The fact that he’s from Lakewood or his name, because nothing regarding citizenship has been released.
Now I know he was an illegal. From someone who knows. So…there’s that. ?
Jessica Beatty this type of violence is common across the border. I know because I was stationed along the border. I also did Illegal Alien Suppression at the base. Now we’re racist if we oppose bodies being hacked and dumped on our roadways… I think not.
Jessica Beatty your ignorant
Haydee….read my comment above. NOT ignorant. GTFOH
Ok so if anyone believes in the science of odds making , the odds tell us that this person is an illegal immigrant. I would put my money on those odds everyday.
Thanks Murphy for showing us how a Sanctuary state destroys communities
Being a sanctuary state is awesome, now my tax dollars get to pay for the mans incarceration when in reality he should be deported…
Smh screwed up times we live in
Sean Schneider and his defense
Sean Schneider deported…put to death for taking a life would be fine with me brother
If he is illegal and doesnt get a life sentence then he will be deported at the end of his incarceration….
Craig Saltarelli why incarcerate and waste valuable services. Get him outta here
Because unfortunately if you deport him you run the risk of having him cross right back over the line and returning…
Mary Aviles!!!!!!
I’m sure with bail reform, the suspect will be home by this afternoon, thanks to the goons in Trenton!
No Bail Reform for violent crimes…
IT’S TRUMPS FAULT ha haa NOT.
Michael Sean they will find a way somehow. Lol
nice job !
Matt J Havens
Rachel Bennett
Rebecca Cusic wow that was fast
Build the wall
Renee Elizabeth
thank god they got him!??
Amanda Glatt
He will be cutting grass by this afternoon, thanks Smurf!
Thanks for voting for Murphy.
He will be out and about by later today. This state and country is a absolute joke very very sad!!
All you assholes commenting are a disgrace instead of having consideration for the one being dead .all you talk about id politics.god has a special place for you
Andy Farfan yea it’s called new jersey
Mark Freeman Jr.
I’d rather have the illegal immigrants here than all these racist MFers.
Sandi Tucker
And thats how you know these people are racist because nowhere in the article it says their illegal.they are assuming because of their names.
What a wonderful world we live in
I am from Mexico, but it does not mean that I am going to kill or rob, nobody has the right to take another person’s life.
David Morales careful these people might build a wall around you.
Kevin Cuthbert . It doesn’t matter, I work in demolition
David Morales best comment!
Great job by the police finding him so fast
That wall can’t be built fast enough
Glad the murderer was caught. Prayers to the deceased’s fam. ?
Linda
30 to life…bye bye scumbag
I’m sure they are all illegal