By: Richard L. Smith
An Elizabeth man has been sentenced to 25 years in state prison for the 2022 bludgeoning death of 30-year-old Carmen Lopez Barahona, according to Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel.
On Friday, September 6, Union County Superior Court Judge Chanel J. Hudson sentenced Victor H. Rodriguez Gomez, 34, to 25 years for first-degree aggravated manslaughter.
According to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Jillian Reyes, Elizabeth police responded to the 200 block of Lt. Glenn Zamorski Drive shortly after 2:00 a.m. on September 11, 2022.
Upon arrival, officers found Barahona suffering from fatal blunt force trauma to her head.
Following the crime, Gomez fled the scene.
His vehicle was located by Perth Amboy police, and he was subsequently apprehended and handed over to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office without incident.
Gomez must serve at least 85% of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. He pled guilty to the charges in July of this year.