By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Ocean County announced that on March 27, Juan Santiago-Rojas, 31, of Point Pleasant Borough, was indicted by a Grand Jury sitting in Ocean County on charges of Attempted Murder, Strangulation, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, all in connection with an incident that occurred in Point Pleasant Borough on August 22, 2022.
According to Ocean County officials, on August 22, 2022, Officers from the Point Pleasant Borough Police Department responded to a residence on Butler Avenue for a report of an unconscious female.
Responding Officers found the unconscious female victim with serious injuries to her head and neck area, OCPO officials say.
Ocean County authorities stated that the victim was thereafter transported to Hackensack Meridian Ocean Medical Center in Brick Township.
Due to the nature and extent of her injuries, the victim was transferred to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where she was treated and eventually released, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.
According to Ocean County authorities, an investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Point Pleasant Borough Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, revealed that the victim had been assaulted by Santiago-Rojas on August 22, 2022.
Santiago-Rojas was initially charged with Aggravated Assault on August 23, 2022, and a warrant was issued for his arrest, OCPO officials said.
A fugitive from justice, Santiago-Rojas’ name was entered in the National Crime Information Center database, Ocean County officials say.
OCPO authorities said that on December 8, 2023, Santiago-Rojas was taken into custody by law enforcement authorities in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Ocean County officials said that on January 12, 2024, Santiago-Rojas was extradited to New Jersey, and has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since that date.
Further investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit indicated that Santiago-
Rojas assaulted the victim and strangled her to the point of unconsciousness on August 22, 2022, according to Ocean County officials.
As a consequence, Santiago-Rojas was additionally charged with Attempted Murder on January 22, 2024, OCPO officials stated.
Ocean County officials said Santiago-Rojas was served with the new charge by way of complaint-warrant at the Ocean County Jail.