NJ 'Most Wanted' Fugitive Found Dead In Dominican Republic

NEW JERSEY — Anthony Mota is no longer among New Jersey's Most Wanted. That's because the suspect accused of kidnapping, torturing and killing a man a quarter-century ago was found dead in the Dominican Republican, the U.S. Marshals Service announced.

Mota kidnapped a man in New York City and held him in New Jersey for ransom on Dec. 12, 1997, according to federal authorities. Over the next four days, Mota and others bound and tortured the victim until they received $23,000 from the man's family, the U.S. Marshals Service said.

Shortly thereafter, Mota took the victim to an area along Interstate 280 in Harrison, where he fatally shot the man in the head and neck, authorities said. Mota then placed the victim's body in another vehicle and lit it on fire, the U.S. Marshals Service said.

Mota faced a slew of charges, including murder, kidnapping, racketeering and arson. Federal authorities, New Jersey State Police and the New York Police Department made extensive attempts to locate and arrest Mota during the investigation. The man was federally indicted for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution on Oct. 1, 1998. Investigators believed Mota fled to his native Dominican Republic.

Last year, investigators conducted multiple interviews in the United States and Dominican Republic. They learned that Mota lived under the alias "Miguel Angel Gonzalez Perez" and started a new family in the Dominican Republic, the U.S. Marshals Service said.

They further learned in June 2021 that Mota died of an apparent heart attack.

During the 25-year investigation, investigators collected DNA evidence from various sources to help in identifying Mota. Last April, a State Police detective, deputy U.S. marshal and State Police forensic anthropologist traveled to to Nizao, Dominican Republic, to participate in the exhumation of "Miguel Angel Gonzalez Perez."

They collected DNA samples, which were hand-carried back to the New Jersey State Police Forensic Anthropology Lab in Hamilton. The DNA matched Mota's, closing the 25-year case.

"This investigation is a testament to our relentless pursuit to not only locate one of New Jersey’s most wanted fugitives, but our dedication to bring closure to the family of the victim that has suffered all these years," said Col. Patrick J. Callahan, the State Police superintendent. "With our local and federal partners, including the United States Marshals Service, we remain committed to using all of our resources and technology at our disposal to bring New Jersey’s most wanted fugitives to justice."