Crime & Safety

Fugitive Wanted For Beating Union County Man to Death Found: Prosecutor

A nearly decade-long search for a fugitive wanted for beating a man to death in Union County was found in Guatemala: Prosecutor

PLAINFIELD, NJ — A fugitive wanted for beating a man to death in Plainfield in 2007 was found and arrested in Guatemala after a nearly a decade-long search, authorities announced Tuesday.

Welder “Dario” Morente Dubon, 30, formerly a resident of Plainfield, was arrested late last week in San Francisco El Alto, Guatemala by FBI agents and members of the Guatemalan Police of the Transnational Anti-Gang Unit, according to Acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park.

Dubon has been working at a tire shop on the 1600 block of South Second Street in Plainfield on March 29, 2007 when Joseph Tremarco, 23, of the Millington section of Long Hill came to the business, according to the investigation.

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The two got into an argument where Dubon allegedly beat Tremarco to death with a blunt instrument, moved the victim’s body into his own pickup truck, and parked the vehicle on a residential street in neighboring North Plainfield before fleeing the area, according to the report.

Tremarco’s body was found the next day and first-degree murder charges were filed against Dubon, but by then, investigators believe that he had already fled to Central America.

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In September 2009, the case was profiled on the television program “America’s Most Wanted,” and in October 2011, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Dubon in U.S. District Court, charging him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

The New Jersey State Police also added Dubon to its 12 Most Wanted list of fugitives.

Investigators received numerous tips of possible sightings of Dubon over the years and followed up on each lead.

Dubon is expected to be extradited to New Jersey during the coming months to face the charges against him.

Anyone with information about this matter, or anyone who may have come into contact with Dubon since March 29, 2007, still is being urged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Detective Danika Ramos at 908-451- 7739.

Dubon could face 30 years to life in state prison for the first-degree murder charge.

(Image via Shutterstock)



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