By: Richard L. Smith
Middlesex County officials are investigating a tragic incident that unfolded on October 31, 2023, in New Brunswick.
Authorities responded to a distress call at 37 Juliet Street. What they encountered would shake the New Brunswick community to its core.
At approximately 9:12 a.m., emergency services were dispatched to the residence following reports of two injured individuals. Upon arrival, officers discovered Lissi Rodriguez-Sanchez, a 20-year-old resident of New Brunswick, and Teodulo Habana, a 64-year-old also from New Brunswick.
Rodriguez-Sanchez was found with multiple stab wounds and, tragically, succumbed to her injuries at the scene. Her untimely death has left the community in mourning. Habana, on the other hand, sustained severe injuries and was immediately transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where he continues to receive treatment for his wounds.
An initial investigation, spearheaded by Detective Victor Delgado of the New Brunswick Police Department and Detective Kevin Schroeck of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, has uncovered disturbing details about the incident. It was revealed that Habana is Rodriguez-Sanchez's stepfather. Furthermore, investigators determined that the injuries sustained by Habana were self-inflicted, making him the perpetrator of this harrowing crime.
Teodulo Habana now faces serious charges in connection with this tragic event. He has been charged with first-degree murder, third-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and fourth-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek to uncover any additional details surrounding this devastating incident.
Anyone with pertinent information or surveillance footage from the area is urged to contact Detective Victor Delgado of the New Brunswick Police Department at 732-745-5200 or Detective Kevin Schroeck of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at 732-745-3289. The community remains on edge as they grapple with the heartbreaking loss of a young life and the shocking circumstances surrounding it.