Belleville Murder Suspect Still At-Large

Authorities have arrested a second suspect wanted in connection with the July 9 murder of 20-year-old Newark resident Robert Hayes, but one suspect from Belleville remains at large.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Edgardo Mendez, 25, of Newark, was arrested on Thursday in a Linden motel.

Mendez was taken into custody by detectives from the Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Task Force and agents from the FBI’s fugitive task force.

The Bloomfield Police Department also assisted with the arrest.

According to the ECPO, Hayes was found suffering from blunt force injuries on Verona Avenue in the early morning hours of July 9. He succumbed to his injuries later that day.

An investigation by the Prosecutor’s Task Force, which includes detectives from the Newark Police Department, led to murder charges being filed against Mendez and two other suspects, Jonathan Tejeda, 23, of Newark, and Eric Santiago, 26, of Belleville.

Tejada was arrested in July and Santiago remains at large, according to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly of the Prosecutor’s Homicide Unit.

Mendez will be remanded to the Essex County Correctional Facility pending a court appearance. Bail has been set at $500,000