Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Director Anthony A. Caputo of the New Brunswick Police Department announce today that two men from New Brunswick have been arrested and charged in the death of a 36-year old man whose body was found in the basement of an abandoned residence in the city last week.
Officials say Mr. Juan Carlos Chavez-Amaya, 36, and Mr. Jorge Barrios, 28, both of New Brunswick were arrested today and charged with one count of first degree murder and one count of endangering an injured victim in the third degree.
Police charged Chavez-Amaya and Barrios following an investigation by the New Brunswick Police Department and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Police say the investigation began when the victim’s body was discovered in an abandoned residence on Welton Street on April 5, 2019, at approximately 9:59 am.
The victim was later identified as Mr. Lucas Reyes-Cardona, 36 of New Brunswick; his death was ruled a homicide by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office, caused by blunt force trauma to the head.
The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Erika DiMarcello of the New Brunswick Police Department at (732) 745-5200, or Detective Grace Brown of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-3373.
As is the case with all criminal investigations, the charges against Chavez-Amaya and Barrios are merely accusations and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty.