Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and Lakewood Township Police Chief Robert Lawson announce today arrests in with the death of Miguel Rivera, 45, of Lakewood. The joint investigation by the OCPO Major Crimes Unit and Lakewood Township Police developed information implicating two Sussex County men in the Burglary/Murder event and overcame defendant Jesus Roman’s mothers attempts to hinder the investigation.
The arrests stem from the death investigation of Miguel Rivera, whose body was found at his Laguna Lane home on Christmas Eve by Lakewood Police Officers responding to his residence as part of a well-being check. Police had received a call from Rivera’s family reporting that they hadn’t heard from him in several days. When officers entered the home at around 8 pm on December 24th, they found Rivera’s body lying face down in the hallway. He appeared to have suffered trauma to his head.
Yesterday (1/4/16), Jesus Roman, 24, and Carlos Lagunes, 23, were both charged with one (1) count of Murder, one (1) count of Burglary, and one (1) count of Hindering, in the death of Miguel Rivera. The Honorable Wendel Daniels, set bail for both Roman and Lagunes at $1,000,000 cash only.
On 1/4/2016, Carlos Lagunes was located and arrested at a Sussex Pizzeria by Troopers from the New Jersey State Police, Sussex Barracks acting on an arrest warrant issued by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Unit at approximately 4:10 pm. A short time later, Jesus Roman was arrested at his residence, located at 3B Church Street, Sussex, N.J., by OCPO Major Crimes Det. John Murphy and Lakewood PD Ptl. Chase Messer.
Also during the course of the investigation, Jesus Roman’s mother, Evelyn Rodriguez, 46, was taken into custody on December 29th, 2015 at the New Jersey State Police Barracks in Sussex (Augusta), NJ and charged with one count of Hindering. Her bail was set at $250,000, with a 10% option.
The lead investigators in the case were OCPO Major Crimes Unit Det. Ray Gardner and Lakewood Police Ptl. Mike Mooney. The Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CSI processed the crime scene and provided evidence collection/preservation throughout the murder investigation.
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KPICASA_GALLERY(MurdeSuspects#)
Are these people legal residents of the usa
Does it matter?
Job well done lakewood police and detective and CSI bring justice for this family R.I.P Miguel
Lakewood driver what does where they are from have to do with the crime? Yes they are they are Puerto Rican.
Glad they caught them!! They’ll get what’s coming to them in prison. She will get hers too!! She knew what her son did!!
and if they are will you bad mouth landlords?
The mother and son are of Puerto Rican decent, so yes they are Leagal !! It really shouldn’t matter if they’re Leagal or not. Someone was murdered and by his stepson, no-less. In any nationality you’ll be sure to find good and bad people.
Lakewood Driver how do i no u watch Fox news
Miguel was my old neighbor, who worked hard, gave everyone respect, and would give you his last if necessary. He was a very hard and reputable mechanic, who was born and raised here in the USA. There are people dying out here every day in the world and ironically the killers ARE legal residents and citizens.
So @Lakewooddriver, its not important as to if they were legal residents or not, what matters is that the police did an outstanding job of apprehending these people off the streets so that they cannot harm anyone else.
#1
Do animals need to be here legally also?? I don’t know.
A huge thanks to the dedicated detectives and officers of LPD and the Ocean County Prosecutors office!
Great police work.
Thank you
Great Polcie work. Sick story – killed by a step son. What an Animal- not human. As is any murderer.
Thank you all those involved working hard on this case!
What was the evidence that convicted these men ?
not all spanish people are undocumented so sto p associating all hispanis as being illegal a human life was taken and what matters is that those invoved have been caught..
Any one have a picture of “Miguel Rivera” Please post it …
THANK YOU LPD
KEEP IT UP !!!!!!!!!!!
Dorothy they weren’t convicted. They were arrested awaiting trial. Anyway great job all around. There are more of these guys out there. Let’s get em!
Feeling safer that the criminals are off the street!!
I’m glad they caught them and it didn’t go unsolved. But it can’t bring Back Miguel Rivera. It’s so sad that people think they have the right to take away other people’s lives. Now his FOUR children have to live with this HORROR!! He did nothing more but work work work as a mechanic, help others, and that SMILE was Everything! An amazing Father, Son, Brother, Uncle, Cousin, and Friend! YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN, ALWAYS REMEMBERED, ALWAYS LOVED,Always Cherished, Forever in Our Hearts. WE LOVE YOU PITO, IT’S NOT SUPPOSE TO BE LIKE THIS. BUT JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED
He wasn’t his stepson! An no they were not convicted. Only charged.
Miguel Rivera was one of the kindest and extremely talented fellows that I ever met. I always had an ill feeling towards his “wife” who lived in his home. Nothing specific just she didn’t seem right. Now I see my suspicions were valid. May they suffer the fate they gave Miguel. May his soul rest in peace now that his murderers will face justice.He is sorely missed.Thank you all those involved in law inforcement for a job well done.
Obviously this is a huge tragedy! Thank you to all the police worriers who brought these heartless people into custody! May the victim rest in,peace!!
I am happy they got caught. However this doesnt make the crime any better,it was a terrible thing and I am very sorry. After reading comments like lakewood’s driver I would like to clarify a few things.. first just because you read a hispanic name, that doesn’t mean the person is illegal.. second not all the latinos are mexican in fact believe it or not there are other countries that actually speak spanish as their main language.. third most crimes are commited by american citizens… Can you inmagine (Sarcasm) and last evil has no nationality. So please act like the smart people you are and think before you post something that can hurt and annoy so many people.
I AM SO HAPPY THEY CAUGHT THEM NOW YOU CAN REST IN PEASE MY COUSIN MIGUEL RIVERA BKA PITO WE LOVE YOU AND WERE GOING TO MISS YOU COUSIN THATS SO SAD THAT IT WAS HIS OWN EX GIRL WITH HER SON AFTER HE TREAT HER LIKE A QUEEN THATS ALL I HAVE TO SAY ITS HORRIBLE
R.I..P Pito l love you and you will be miss by everyone but memories are still here …….your sister is other part of you twins I may say lol