30 Years For Monroe Man Who Hacked Stepdad To Death With Ax

MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Monroe Township man was sentenced Friday to serve 30 years in a New Jersey state prison for the murder of his 46-year old stepfather.

Joao C. Torres, 27, of Monroe was sentenced for the murder of Christopher Ernst Sr., 46, who was found dead on January 4, 2017 in a garage room of a home they shared on Garvey Drive in Monroe Township.

As Patch reported, Torres admitted in Middlesex County court earlier this May to the gruesome crime: Attacking his stepfather in his bed while the man was sleeping, and hacking him to death with an ax.

Torres admitted to striking his stepfather three times in the head with an ax after the older man went to bed. Torres said he then wrapped him in a blanket and garbage bag, secured it with duct tape and moved the body into the room in the garage. He also acknowledged taking his wallet and using his stepdad's credit cards at Wawas in both Old Bridge and Sayreville.

Police began the investigation when they received a call on January 4 from someone who was concerned when Torres failed to show up for work. They went to the home, and found Ernest's body. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

While police were searched for Torres, he ran into a section of woods several miles from his home; they found him in the woods hiding inside the back of a truck.

Torres pleaded guilty on May 11, 2018, to the murder of his stepfather, one count of disturbing human remains and two counts of fraudulent use of credit cards.

He received a 30-year prison term without parole eligibility for the murder of his stepfather. He was also sentenced to 10 years for disturbing human remains and 5 years for each of the two counts of fraudulent use of credit cards. These prison terms are to run concurrent to the 30-year sentence for murder.