GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A judge Friday denied prosecutors’ motion to delay Pedro Santiago-Marquez’s April 18 trial for allegedly killing another man due to a drug debt — despite concerns about whether the parties would be ready.
Santiago-Marquez is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and being party to mutilating a corpse in connection with the Sept. 27 murder of Jason Mendez-Ramos. Santiago-Marquez allegedly killed Mendez-Ramos because Santiago-Marquez owed Mendez-Ramos $80,000 for a cocaine deal. Rather than pay Mendez-Ramos, Santiago-Marquez allegedly killed him, the criminal complaint alleges.
Santiago-Marquez filed a speedy trial demand — requiring a trial within 90 days — prompting the April 18 trial date.
Citing a conflict with out-of-state training, prosecutors had asked for the April 18 date to be delayed. Defense attorney Heather Richmond said Friday she didn’t object to that, as long as the trial was still in the 90-day window.
Judge Donald Zuidmulder said he was denying the state’s request, reiterating his concern about whether the defense would have time to adequately prepare, but reinforced trial is still set for April 18.
Another hearing will be held next Friday to check the status of the case.
According to the criminal complaints, Santiago-Marquez owned an east side business. Mendez-Ramos, Alexander Burgos-Mojica and Jeisaac 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 claims.
Mendez-Ramos’ body was dumped on the edge of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay campus and set on fire. Security videos, cellphone tracking information and DNA tie Rodriguez-Garcia to that scene, according to the criminal complaints.
Rodriguez-Garcia has a status conference May 3. Burgos-Mojica has an arraignment April 18.
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