FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Caitlin Mota
PHONE: (201) 577-6699
EMAIL: cmota@hcpo.org
TWITTER: @HCPOProsecutor
WEB: HCPO.org
DATE: Friday, February 11, 2022

HARRISON MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN 2007 FATAL STABBING OF JERSEY CITY TRUCK DRIVER

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

On Thursday, February 10, 2022, Joel Esquijarrosa, 44, of Harrison, pleaded guilty in connection with the August 24, 2007 murder of Rafael Angel Aguero Espinoza in Jersey City.

Esquijarrosa pleaded guilty to Aggravated Manslaughter in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4(a)(1). The State will be recommending a sentence of 18 years in New Jersey State Prison subject to the No Early Release Act. Sentencing is scheduled before the Honorable Vincent J. Militello, J.S.C. on Friday, April 8, 2022.

On Friday, August 24, 2007, Rafael Angel Aguero Espinoza, 50, was found dead inside the cabin of his tractor trailer, which was parked on Senate Place and Van Winkle Avenue in Jersey City. The cause of death was later determined to be multiple stab wounds and the manner of death to be homicide. The investigation revealed the homicide was committed during the commission of a robbery.

On Monday, February 3, 2020, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office was contacted by the Harrison Police Department after Esquijarrosa was arrested in that jurisdiction on criminal
mischief charges. Based on an investigation conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office Cold Case Unit, Esquijarrosa was charged in connection with the 2007 murder.

The State is represented in this case by Assistant Prosecutor Nicole Ghezzar of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.