GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Pedro Santiago-Marquez made his first court appearance Thursday for allegedly killing Jason Mendez-Ramos due to a drug debt.
The body of Jason Mendez-Ramos was found Sept. 28 after a report of a grass fire on the edge of the UW-Green Bay campus. Police investigating the fire discovered his body.
Santiago-Marquez was ordered held on a $1 million cash bond. He returns to court Feb. 11.
Alexander Burgos-Mojica also made his first court appearance Thursday. He is charged with aiding a felon. Bond was set at $25,000 cash, and he also returns to court Feb. 11.
Jeisaac Rodriguez-Garcia was charged last month with mutilating a corpse for allegedly setting the fire. Rodriguez-Garcia has been ordered to stand trial, and returns to court Feb. 21 for an arraignment.
According to the criminal complaints, Santiago-Marquez owned an east side business. Mendez-Ramos, Burgos-Mojica, and Rodriguez-Garcia all currently or previously worked for Santiago-Marquez.
A witness told police Santiago-Marquez owed Mendez-Ramos $80,000 for a cocaine deal. Rather than pay Mendez-Ramos, Santiago-Marquez allegedly killed him, the complaint alleges.
Mendez-Ramos’ body was dumped on the edge of the UWGB campus, and set on fire. Security videos, cell phone tracking information, and DNA tie Rodriguez-Garcia to that scene, according to the criminal complaints.
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