A New Mexico jury has convicted a 28-year-old man, Joel Arciniega-Saenz, for a brutal murder involving the stabbing and decapitation of a 51-year-old man, James Garcia. The incident, which took place on June 20, 2021, in Apodaca Park, Las Cruces, involved Arciniega-Saenz reportedly using the victim’s head to play soccer in the park. The park is located in southern New Mexico, approximately 45 miles north of El Paso, Texas.
The Doña Ana District Attorney’s Office reported that the case faced delays due to questions surrounding Arciniega-Saenz’s mental competency. At the time of the murder, Arciniega-Saenz was homeless and living in the park where the crime took place. Prosecutors revealed that he used a switchblade for the attack and also severed Garcia’s middle finger.
District Attorney Fernando Macias expressed his condolences to Garcia’s family and loved ones, reaffirming his office’s commitment to justice and community safety. He praised the dedication of the Las Cruces Police Department officers who investigated the case, calling them the “real heroes.”
Arciniega-Saenz confessed to the crime following his arrest. He claimed the murder was an act of revenge for an alleged rape of his wife by Garcia four years prior. He also accused Garcia of stealing their belongings while he and his wife were asleep. Arciniega-Saenz reportedly confronted Garcia in the park, took his switchblade, and committed the murder.
Police officers responding to reports of a body found Arciniega-Saenz at the scene with significant blood stains on his clothes and a bloody knife nearby. He allegedly admitted to kicking the victim’s decapitated head towards 14 different vehicles.
Arciniega-Saenz had previously been a suspect in a 2017 murder case involving the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Benjamin Isaac Montoya. However, due to the lack of a murder weapon, charges were dropped in 2018. It remains unclear whether Arciniega-Saenz is still a suspect in that case.
In the month leading up to Garcia’s murder, Arciniega-Saenz had been accused of throwing rocks at businesses in the Mesquite Historic District of Las Cruces, drawing media attention.