Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray has announced that a second suspect has been arrested in connection with the July 9, 2015 murder of Robert Hayes.
Edgardo Mendez, age 25, of Newark was arrested this afternoon in a motel in Linden, NJ. Mendez was taken into custody by detectives from the Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Task Force and agents from the FBI’s fugitive task force.
The Bloomfield Police Department also assisted with today’s arrest.
Hayes, age 20 of Newark, was found suffering from blunt force injuries on Verona Avenue in the early morning hours of July 9, 2015. He succumbed to his injuries later that day.
An investigation by the Prosecutor’s Task Force, which includes detectives from the Newark Police Department, led to murder charges being filed against Mendez and two other suspects, Jonathan Tejeda, 23 of Newark and Eric Santiago, age 26 of Belleville.
Tejada was arrested on July and Santiago remains at large, according to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas S. Fennelly of the Prosecutor’s Homicide Unit. Mendez will be remanded to the Essex County Correctional Facility pending a court appearance, according to Fennelly. Bail has been set at $500,000
Acting Prosecutor Murray praised the work of the Major Crimes Task Force and thanked the FBI and Bloomfield Police Department for the assistance provided by both agencies.