Ocean County Man Sentenced To State Prison In Fatal Stabbing

Jorge Santiago-Garcia (Photo courtesy Ocean County Prosecutor's Office/Jail)

  LAKEWOOD – A Lakewood man has been sentenced to 25 years in state prison for Aggravated Manslaughter after stabbing someone who later died of their injuries.

  Jorge Santiago-Garcia, 33, previously pled guilty to Aggravated Manslaughter in connection to the death of Rodrigo Jimenez-Paz, 29, in Lakewood on August 31, 2020. 

  The victim had been brought to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where lifesaving efforts were attempted, but were unsuccessful.

  On August 5, Santiago-Garcia was sentenced to 25 years in New Jersey State Prison. This sentence will be subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, meaning that Santiago-Garcia will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence before he may be considered for parole eligibility. 

  Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer acknowledged the efforts of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Kristin Pressman, Senior Assistant Prosecutor Mara Brater, and Assistant Prosecutor Kaitlyn Burke who handled the case on behalf of the State, as well as the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Lakewood Police, Lakewood Detective Bureau, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and New Jersey State Police Office of Forensic Sciences, for their collective and collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation, leading to Santiago-Garcia’s arrest, guilty plea, and now his lengthy state prison sentence.