A 23-year-old Newark man pleads not guilty today in connection to the death of 20-year-old New Jersey City University student, Robert Hayes.
During a brief hearing at Veterans Courthouse in Newark, Jonathan Tejeda, one of three suspects charged in connection to Hayes' death, entered the plea the not guilty plea.
According to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, the other two suspects (who are being sought by authorities), Eric Santiago, 26, of Belleville and Edgardo Mendez, 23, of Newark, have been charged with the murder for their roles in the killing.
On July 9, Hayes was discovered seriously beaten and naked near the intersection of Verona Avenue and Highland Avenue in Newark.
He was transported to University Hospital in Newark, where doctors informed family and authorities that Hayes had suffered a traumatic brain injury. Family removed him from life support days later.
No details have been released by authorities since incident remains under investigation by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Task Force.
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