A Jersey City man has pleaded guilty to the sexual assault and murder of Carolina Cano, a woman who was raped and killed in Lincoln Park last year.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Earlier today, Jorge A. Rios, of Jersey City, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree aggravated sexual assault related to the death of Carolina Cano that occurred on March 24th, 2019 in Jersey City.
Rios admitted to sexually assaulting and then strangling Cano in the early morning hours on that date in Lincoln Park.
The state is recommending a sentence of 30 years in New Jersey state prison subject to the No Early Release Act for the murder and 10 years for the aggravated sexual assault to be served concurrently.
The crime of murder carries a mandatory minimum of 30 years of parole ineligibility.
On March 24, 2019, shortly after 7:30 a.m., the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a possible body found in Lincoln Park in Jersey City.
Responding Hudson County Sheriff’s Officers found the body of Carolina Cano, 45, of Jersey City, in the lake in Lincoln Park. Cano was pronounced dead at approximately 9:30 a.m.
The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death to be homicidal violence including strangulation and water submersion and the manner of death to be homicide.
On March 31st, 2019, members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force arrested and charged Rios for the murder of Carolina Cano.
On June 19, 2019, a Hudson County Grand Jury returned an indictment against Rios charging him with four counts related to the death of Carolina Cano. The Indictment charged Rios with Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Sexual Assault and Kidnapping.
At a court proceeding last month, it was revealed that Rios has confessed to killing Cano just one week after her body was found.
Sentencing in this case has been scheduled for April 24th before Hudson County Superior Court Judge Patrick Arre, who accepted the guilty plea.
The state is represented in this case by Assistant Prosecutor Najma Rana of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit.
Rios is an illegal alien. Nowhere does the article mention this – intentionally I am sure. His victim came to this country legally. So much for a sanctuary state.