Monroe Man Admits Hacking Stepfather To Death With Ax

MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ — On Friday, a Monroe Twp. man admitted in Middlesex County court to a shocking crime: Attacking his stepfather in his bed while the man was sleeping, and hacking him to death with an ax.

The murder occurred in January of 2017, but Joao Torres, 27, of Monroe accepted a plea deal this past Friday, May 11. The stepfather, Christopher Ernst Sr., 46, was found dead on January 4, 2017 in a garage room of a home the two men shared on Garvey Drive in Monroe Township.

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 also pleaded guilty to one count of disturbing human remains, and two counts of fraudulent use of credit cards.

Under a plea agreement reached with Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Bina Desai and Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Dana Morton, Torres will be sentenced to 30 years in a New Jersey state prison for the murder of his stepfather, which he must do without parole.

Torres is scheduled to be sentenced in New Brunswick by Superior Court Judge Pedro J. Jimenez, Jr. on July 6.

Past Patch reporting: Monroe Township Man Killed Stepfather, Fatally Struck Him in Head With Weapon, Police Said