A North Bergen man received a 35-year prison sentence for a 2021 fatal stabbing in Maywood that claimed the life of a 64-year-old man, authorities said.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
On February 16th, 2021, Augusto Perez, 73, stabbed Omar Cruz, 64, to death behind the Ulta Beauty store in the Bergen Town Center mall in Maywood.
An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, Maywood Police Department, and Paramus Police Department led to the arrest of Perez at his North Bergen home on February 17th, 2021.
On April 5th of this year, after a six-week trial before Bergen County Superior Court Judge Susan J. Steele, a jury convicted Perez of aggravated manslaughter and hindering his own apprehension by suppression of blood evidence connecting him to the crime.
On Wednesday, October 16th, during a proceeding before Steele, Perez was sentenced to 35 years in New Jersey State Prison pursuant to his conviction.
The State was represented by Chief Assistant Prosecutor Anthony Talarico and Assistant Prosecutor Ricky Ruddy of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
They were assisted by Detective Natalia Navarro of the BCPO Major Crimes Unit and BCPO Legal Clerk Merci Meneses.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella thanks the prosecution team “for their zealous advocacy for the victim and his family, and for helping combat crimes of violence in Bergen County.”
He also commended the detectives of the Major Crimes Unit, as well as members of the Maywood and Paramus Police Departments and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office under “for their skill and professionalism in investigating this matter.”
