Rahway Man Sentenced For Strangling Girlfriend As Son Slept

RAHWAY, NJ — A Rahway man was sentenced to 47 years in state prison for strangling his girlfriend to death just feet away from where their young son was also sleeping in 2015, acting Union County Prosecutor Michael A. Monahan announced.

Ignacio Ortiz Vasquez, 42, was ordered to serve a minimum of 85 percent of a 40-year sentence for murder before beginning a seven-year sentence for endangering the welfare of a child under the terms set down Friday by state Superior Court Judge Lisa Miralles Walsh.

Rahway Police reportedly found an unresponsive 27-year-old Yuri Cruz at a home in the 900 block of Jacques Avenue in Rahway shortly after 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 12, 2015, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Melissa Spagnoli, who is prosecuting the case.

Cruz was pronounced dead at the scene shortly thereafter. Vasquez had left the scene but was arrested later that day and lodged in Union County Jail on $1 million.

He pleaded guilty to murder and endangering in April, just days before jury selection was scheduled to begin for his trial.

The victim’s brother and father read statements into the record during Friday’s sentencing.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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