Carlos Leiva-Oviedo | Homicide Watch Trenton

Teen boy gets 18 years for slaying immigrant

Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 15:34:19 -0500

Justice has been served in the June 2016 stabbing death of 27-year-old Honduran immigrant Carlos Leiva-Oviedo.

Danny Saad, the 16-year-old boy who had confessed to the Chambersburg slaying, received an 18-year prison sentence last Friday. He previously pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter on Oct. 2.

This surveillance video still image helped police arrest Danny Saad as the attacker who stabbed Carlos Leiva-Oviedo to death last year. (Submitted image)

Saad was originally charged with murder, armed robbery and weapons offenses in connection with the homicide, which occurred near the intersection of Hudson and Genesee streets during the early morning hours of June 14, 2016. Leiva-Oviedo suffered multiple stab wounds and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Detective Roberto Reyes of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, with assistance from other agencies, arrested Saad at a relative’s house in Newark on July 6, 2016. Saad was 15 at the time of his juvenile arrest and turned 16 in May shortly after prosecutors charged him as an adult. Saad himself is a Newark resident.

The homicide victim Leiva-Oviedo was an immigrant from Honduras who moved to Trenton circa 2014 to earn money for his family, most of whom still live in Honduras. He was the father of a young child and provided for his family by working in Trenton as a roofer.

Carlos Leiva-Oviedo

Weeks after the slaying, authorities released a still image and surveillance video of two men who were said to be connected to the homicide case. The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office previously disclosed that the video and image released to the media by police in July 2016 “helped investigators identify Saad” and solve the case, which suggests Saad acted alone and had no accomplices.

Mercer County Superior Court Judge Robert Bingham II sentenced Saad last Friday to 18 years of incarceration to be followed by five years of parole supervision. He must serve 85 percent of his prison term minus 519 days of jail credit, according to court records.

Following his sentencing last Friday, court records show that Saad had a second sentencing hearing on Wednesday. It was not immediately clear why Saad had to undergo a second round of sentencing for the same case, but it could have been to correct a mistake in the record.

Erroneous court records on Wednesday indicated that Saad was sentenced for first-degree murder — a crime that carries a punishment of 30 years to life in prison — but he had actually pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of first-degree aggravated manslaughter in a deal that called for all other charges against him to be dismissed.

Teen boy: I killed an immigrant in Trenton’s Chambersburg section

Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 17:20:46 -0400

The North Jersey teenager who stabbed and killed 27-year-old Carlos Leiva-Oviedo during a June 2016 Chambersburg attack will serve at least one decade of hard time behind bars.

Carlos Leiva-Oviedo

Danny Saad, 16, of Newark, has pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, admitting he killed the hardworking Honduran immigrant during a visit to New Jersey’s capital city. The victim suffered multiple stab wounds and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Saad was originally charged with murder, armed robbery and weapons offenses in connection with the slaying, which occurred near the intersection of Hudson and Genesee streets during the early morning hours of June 14, 2016.

A Mercer County grand jury on June 23 indicted Saad on multiple counts, including first-degree murder, but the counts of murder, armed robbery and weapons offenses in the indictment will be disposed of when he is sentenced later this year for aggravated manslaughter. Those are the terms of the plea agreement, which Saad accepted on Oct. 2 when he voluntarily came forward as a self-confessed killer.

The homicide victim Carlos Leiva-Oviedo was an immigrant from Honduras who moved to Trenton circa 2014 to earn money for his family, most of whom still live in Honduras. He was the father of a young child and provided for his family by working in Trenton as a roofer.

Authorities were trying to locate these men in connection with the June 2016 homicide of Carlos Leiva-Oviedo. This still image helped police identify Danny Saad as the killer. (SUBMITTED IMAGE)

Saad is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 8 before Mercer County Superior Court Judge Robert Bingham II. He could receive as low as 10 years of incarceration and as much as 30 years in the slammer for pleading guilty to first-degree aggravated manslaughter.

If Saad took his case to trial and received guilty verdicts on the heavy charges, he would have faced a minimum of 30 years and a maximum of 75 years behind bars.

Defense attorney Harley D. Breite is representing Saad while Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor Stacey Geurds is prosecuting him on behalf of the state.

Staff writer Penny Ray contributed to this report.

Mercer County grand jury issues two separate murder indictments

Trentonian Staff — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 18:32:01 -0400

Jonathan Weathers

A Mercer County grand jury issued two murder indictments last week.

Jonathan Weathers, 26, was indicted on charges of murder, robbery and tampering with a witness in connection with the death of 60-year-old Stephen Merrill.

Weathers is accused of severely beating Merrill during a robbery on August 2, 2016. Merrill was found suffering from a brain bleed, a collapsed lung and multiple broken bones on Lamberton Street around 3 a.m.

Officials say Weathers took Merrill’s wallet, cellphone and Fitbit during the assault.

Merrill died at the hospital a few weeks later.

While Weathers was in jail, prosecutors say, he contacted a witness in the case and told them to recant their statement regarding the robbery and not go to court. For that, Weathers was charged with tampering with a witness.

Weathers remains in jail on $1 million bail.

A grand jury also indicted 16-year-old Danny Saad for the death of Carlos Leiva-Oviedo, who was fatally stabbed near the intersection of Hudson and Genesee streets on the morning of June 14, 2016.

Surveillance video helped police identify Saad, from Newark, as a suspect in the case. Saad was charged with murder and related weapons offenses, and was waived to adult court.

Saad remains in the Middlesex County Youth Detention Center.

Newark boy faces adult charges in 2016 Chambersburg murder case

Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman — Wed, 17 May 2017 14:39:57 -0400

The Newark boy accused of stabbing 27-year-old Carlos Leiva-Oviedo to death last year is now incarcerated on pretrial detention and facing murder charges as an adult.

Danny Saad, who recently turned 16, has been charged with murder, armed robbery, murder during commission of a crime, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon in connection with the Chambersburg stabbing death of Leiva-Oviedo.

Carlos Leiva-Oviedo

During the early morning hours of June 14, 2016, Trenton Police responded to the intersection of Hudson and Genesee streets and found Leiva-Oviedo sprawled out on the street near his car, which was parked on Hudson. He suffered multiple stab wounds and was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he died four hours later.

Detective Roberto Reyes of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, with assistance from other agencies, arrested Saad at a relative’s house in Newark on July 6, 2016. He was charged April 28 as an adult, and Mercer County Superior Court Judge Peter Warshaw ordered the teenager to pretrial detention on May 4. Saad was 15 at the time of his arrest and turned 16 earlier this month.

Leiva-Oviedo was an immigrant from Honduras who moved to Trenton circa 2014 to earn money for his family, most of whom still live in Honduras. Leiva-Oviedo was the father of a toddler child and worked as a roofer.

“He called his daughter every week,” his girlfriend Lesvia Liliana Caballero previously told The Trentonian. “He was a very responsible person. He worked a lot and he paid for his daughter’s life. He sent her money every week.”

Saad is scheduled to appear in court 11 a.m. May 25 for a pre-indictment conference before Judge Warshaw. He was being represented by defense attorney Harley D. Breite.

Staff writer Penny Ray contributed to this report.

Newark 15-year-old arrested for murder of Carlos Leiva-Oviedo

Trentonian Staff — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 14:25:38 -0400

Carlos Leiva-Oviedo

The public helped identify a suspect wanted for murder, prosecutors announced Friday.

A 15-year-old from Newark was arrested Thursday night for the stabbing death of 27-year-old Carlos Leiva-Oviedo last month.

The last two weeks, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office released a still image and video of two men wanted in connection with the murder. Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri said Friday in a statement that the duo was identified by the public.

“This is a case that would not have been solved without all of the pieces: methodical, perseverant police work, help from the media, and the public doing their part by contacting the authorities with information,” Onofri said. “When we work together, justice is served.”

At approximately 3 a.m. on June 14, police responded to the intersection of Hudson and Genesee streets and found Leiva-Oviedo sprawled out on the in the street near his car, which was parked on Hudson. He suffered multiple stab wounds and was taken by ambulance to a hospital where he died four hours later.

Police arrested the 15-year-old, whose name is being withheld because he is a juvenile, Thursday night at a relative’s house in Newark by members of the Mercer County Homicide Task Force, prosecutors said. He is charged with murder, felony murder, robbery, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon. The juvenile was sent to the Middlesex County Youth Detention Center.

the investigation was led by Detective Roberto Reyes and the Mercer County Homicide Task Force.

Leiva-Oviedo, a Honduran, moved to Trenton about two years ago to earn money for his family, most of whom still live in Honduras. Leiva-Oviedo, who became the city’s eleventh murder victim, worked as a roofer and installed aluminum siding.

He left behind a 4-year-old daughter, whom he sent money to in Honduras, his friends previously said.

The Mercer County Narcotics Task Force, the Newark Police Department and the Essex County Homicide Task Force assisted in the arrest, Onofri said.

WATCH: Help authorities identify two men wanted in connection with Trenton murder

Trentonian Staff — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 14:47:25 -0400

TRENTON >> Following the release of a photograph last week, authorities are still searching for two men they say are connected to the murder of a Honduran man who was stabbed to death last month.

Authorities are seeking two men connected to a stabbing death in Trenton.

In another attempt to identify the men, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office released an 8-second video Friday of two men walking near the area where 27-year-old Carlos Leiva-Oviedo was stabbed to death in the early-morning hours of June 14. Last week, prosecutors released a grainy still photo of the men.

Police responded to the intersection of Hudson and Genesee streets and found Leiva-Oviedo sprawled out on the in the street near his car, which was parked on Hudson. He suffered multiple stab wounds and was taken by ambulance to a hospital where he died four hours later.

Authorities did not elaborate about whether the two men are considered suspects or persons of interest. No arrests have been made and no one has been charged with the slaying of Oviedo, who became the 11th murder victim of the year.

The men, both slim, appear with each other as they walk on the sidewalk. Authorities did not reveal where the surveillance still was taken.

One of the men has a medium complexion, dark bushy hair and scraggly facial hair. He wore a blue and black jacket, camouflage pants and appeared to be wear gloves or had his hands tucked into the jacket.

The second male, possibly white or Hispanic, wore a gray sweatshirt, sleeves rolled up at the elbows, dark shorts and a bandana on his head. He appeared to carry something in his right arm.

It is unclear how the men are connected to the death of Leiva-Oviedo, who moved to Trenton about two years ago to earn money for his family, most of whom still live in Honduras. Leiva-Oviedo worked as a roofer and installed aluminum siding.

He left behind a 4-year-old daughter, whom he sent money to in Honduras, his friends said.

“He called his daughter every week,” his girlfriend Lesvia Liliana Caballero said. “He was a very responsible person. He worked a lot and he paid for his daughter’s life. He sent her money every week.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Mercer County Homicide Task Force at 609-989-6406, the Trenton police confidential tip line at 609-989-3663 or Detective Roberto Reyes at 609-256-0997. The Trenton Crime Stoppers tip line is 609-278-8477 or text a tips labeled TCSTIPS can be sent to Trenton Crime Stoppers at 274637.

Police seek two men in connection with stabbing death of Trenton man

Trentonian Staff — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 16:58:03 -0400

Authorities are searching for two men they say are connected to the murder of a Honduran man who was stabbed to death this month.

Authorities are seeking two men connected to a stabbing death in Trenton.

The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office released a grainy photo Wednesday of two men walking near the area where 27-year-old Carlos Leiva-Oviedo was stabbed to death in the early-morning hours of June 14.

The men, both slim, appear with each other on the sidewalk. Authorities did not reveal where the surveillance still was taken.

The second male, possibly white or Hispanic, wore a gray sweatshirt, sleeves rolled up at the elbows, dark shorts and a bandana on his head. He appeared to carry something in his right arm.

He left behind a 4-year-old daughter, whom he sent money to in Honduras, his friends said.

Councilman George Muschal, who represents the South Ward, said after the stabbing that he didn’t expect the tide of violence to stem in the summer months.

“It’s going to be a hot summer, and it’s going to be a long summer,” he said.

Trenton man stabbed to death Tuesday morning

Penny Ray — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 11:31:04 -0400

Carlos Leiva-Oviedo and his girlfriend Lesvia Liliana Caballero (submitted photo)

A man from Honduras who has lived in the capital city for about two years was stabbed to death Tuesday morning, becoming the city’s eleventh homicide victim this year.

Carlos Leiva-Oviedo, 27, was stabbed around 3 a.m. Tuesday near the intersection of Hudson and Genesee streets. When police arrived, they found him lying in the street near his car, which was parked on Hudson, suffering from several stab wounds.

Carlos was rushed to the hospital where he died about four hours later.

According to his friends, Carlos moved to Trenton about two years ago to earn money for his family, most of whom still live in Honduras. He was employed as a roofer and also found work repairing and installing aluminum siding.

Carlos was a first-born child and has six siblings and a four-year-old daughter, who all live in Honduras with his mother and father. He sent them money on a weekly basis, his friends said. And a woman who works at an international money transfer service at the corner of Hudson and Genesee confirmed that Carlos wired money to Honduras on a regular basis.

His friends gathered outside Carlos’ Genesee Street home Tuesday afternoon and described him as a person who “never messed with anyone” and had a “good friendship with everyone.”

Friends of Carlos Leiva-Oviedo console his girlfriend after learning about his murder Tuesday. (Penny Ray - Trentonian)

“I can’t believe it,” 21-year-old Greisy Lopez, who grew up with Carlos and often attended church with him in Honduras said. “He came here looking for a better life. How did this happen to my friend?”

His friends said no one in the neighborhood has any clue as to why Carlos was outside at 3 a.m. They described the neighborhood as a “quiet” place where violent encounters often occur.

Judy Platt, 52, who described Carlos as her best friend, said she last spoke with him around 3 p.m. Monday while they were cleaning the window of his car. She said he told her he’d “be right back,” but the two never spoke to each other again.

“He was very nice and a very quiet guy,” Platt said as she tried to suppress tears. “He loved watching and playing soccer.”

Carlos’ friends said they plan to send his body back to Honduras for burial, but they’re worried about not having money to do so. They plan to speak with churches and local organizations that may be able to provide funds to transfer his body.

After receiving word about the killing, Councilman George Muschal, who represents the South Ward where the fatal stabbing occurred, said "there's no way of preventing these murders."

Carlos Leiva-Oviedo

"The cops are doing the best they can," Muschal, a retired city police officer who served 40 years on the force, said. "There's no way of preventing a stabbing like that. Everybody hollers about guns. But this was a knife. You just can't stop all crime. If someone’s going to kill a person, they’ll find a way to do it.”

With summer weather upon us, Muschal warns residents to "be prepared."

"It's going to be a hot summer and it's going to be a long summer," the councilman said. "The police are doing the best they can with the manpower they have."

No arrests have been made in connection with Carlos’ death. As of press time, police have not released a suspect description, nor have they released a motive for the murder.

Anyone with information about the killing is asked to call the Mercer County Homicide Task Force at 609-989-6406, or contact the Trenton Police confidential tip line at (609) 989-3663. Individuals may also call the Trenton Crime Stoppers tip line at (609) 278-8477. Those wishing to text a tip can send a message labeled TCSTIPS to Trenton Crime Stoppers at 274637.

— Trentonian staff writer David Foster contributed to this report