GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — There’s now apparently another suspect in the killing of Jason Mendez-Ramos, the man whose body was found burned on the edge of the UW-Green Bay campus in September of last year.
The state has amended charges of first-degree intentional homicide against Pedro Santiago-Marquez to be “party to the crime” of first-degree intentional homicide. That means the state wouldn’t have to prove Santiago-Marquez specifically killed Mendez-Ramos, just that he aided and abetted in the action.
Defense attorney Heather Richmond has filed a motion seeking to blame another man for the killing. In Wisconsin, defendants have to get the judge’s permission before trial to specifically blame the crime on someone else, with a series of three prongs – motive, opportunity, and connection – having to be met. A motion on that hearing is now set for Thursday.
Two others, Jeisaac Rodriguez-Garcia and Alexander Burgos-Mojica allegedly assisted in the killing, which was reportedly over a drug debt.
Jason Mendez-Ramos (GBPD)
Monday’s trial date is still currently scheduled to proceed.
Burgos-Mojica has a status conference Sept. 26 on a count of aiding a felon. No trial date has been set.
Rodriguez-Garcia has a status conference Oct. 17 on a count of mutilating a corpse. No trial date has been set.
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 UWGB campus and set on fire. Security videos, cellphone tracking information and DNA tie Rodriguez-Garcia to that scene, according to the criminal complaints.
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