New Brunswick Man Fatally Stabbed, Robbed Another Man: Police

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — A New Brunswick man was taken into police custody Wednesday and charged with the murder and robbery of a second man, also of New Brunswick, said the Middlesex County Prosecutor.

The victim, Sanddi Cruz, 30, was found by police at 11:30 p.m. June 14 in the area of Seaman Street and Railroad Avenue; New Brunswick Police had been called there for a report of a stabbing.

They found the man gravely injured and bleeding with multiple stab wounds to the chest. Cruz succumbed to the stab wounds and died at the scene.

Police identified Osman Ruiz-Castro, 31, of New Brunswick as the perpetrator. This was not a random act of violence; Ruiz-Castro knew the victim, said police.

Ruiz-Castro was taken into police custody Wednesday and charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree robbery, one count of second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery and one count of third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

The Middlesex County prosecutor did not say what he is accused of stealing from Cruz.

Anyone with information or surveillance footage of the area is asked to call Detective Martinez of the New Brunswick Police Department at (732) 745-5200 or Detective Kelley of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-3330.