Grand Jury Indicts Point Pleasant Man, Once a Fugitive, for Attempted Murder

Juan Santiago-Rojas (Photo: Ocean County Jail)

A grand jury seated in Ocean County on Thursday handed up an indictment against a Point Pleasant Borough man on a charge of attempted murder following a 2022 incident in which a woman received critical injuries.

Juan Santiago-Rojas, 31, of Point Pleasant Borough, was indicted on the attempted murder charge, as well as strangulation, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon, all in connection with an incident that occurred in Point Pleasant Borough Aug. 22, 2022.

That day, police responded to a residence on Butler Avenue for a report of an unconscious female, where officers found the victim with serious injuries to her head and neck area. The victim was transported to Hackensack Meridian Ocean Medical Center in Brick Township, but due to the nature and extent of her injuries, was transferred to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where she was treated and eventually released.

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An investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, Major Crime Unit, Point Pleasant Borough police, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office CSI Unit, revealed that the victim had allegedly been assaulted by Santiago-Rojas on Aug. 22, 2022. He was initially charged with aggravated assault on Aug. 23, 2022, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

A fugitive from justice, Santiago-Rojas’ name was entered in the National Crime Information Center database.

On Dec. 8, 2023, Santiago-Rojas was taken into custody by law enforcement authorities in Wilmington, N.C. On Jan. 12, 2024, he was extradited to New Jersey, and has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail ever since.

Further investigation by the Special Victims Unit indicated that Santiago-Rojas “assaulted the victim and strangled her to the point of unconsciousness” on Aug. 22, 2022, a statement from the office said. As a consequence, Santiago-Rojas was additionally charged with attempted murder on Jan. 22, 2024. Santiago-Rojas was served with the new charge by way of complaint-warrant at the Ocean County Jail.