Carlos Menjivar of Long Branch charged with double murders

Long Branch – Carlos I. Menjivar, 22, of North Fifth Ave., was arrested on December 16, 2014 for the gruesome double homicide that occurred on March 25, 2013 at an apartment house located at 418 Sairs Avenue.

According to Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Menjivar was arrested on Tuesday night and was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Bail was set at $2 million by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Francis J. Vernoia, P.J.Cr., with no 10 percent option. Menjivar is currently being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Facility in Freehold.

The bodies of Maria Yolanda Cotejo-Munzo, 35, and that of Feredis Venturo, 33, were discovered after Long Branch Police were investigating a missing persons report. According to law enforcement, Cotejo-Munoz was last reported being seen around noon on March 24, 2013.

Police who had responded to the apartment on Sairs Avenue found what unofficial sources said was a very bloody crime scene. It was reported that both victims had suffered from multiple sharp force injuries.

Catejo-Munoz had immigrated to the United States from Chile, where she had a young daughter who stayed. Catejo-Munoz had come to this country with a hope of creating a better life for herself and one day had plans on bringing her daughter here. She found employment as a housekeeper.

Ventura was also an immigrant, who came from El Salvador. He was working as a carpenter at the time of his murder. Both victims were romantically involved and had meet each other at a night spot in Eatontown.

An intense investigation was started by the Long Branch Police Department, Monmouth County Sherriff and Prosecutor’s offices. Charles Webster, official spokesperson for the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, did confirm that Menjivar was living in Long Branch since the murders.

Rumors had circulated following the killings that the murderer might have fled the country. However, Menjivar never left the city. Some also speculated that he might have been an ex-boyfriend or spouse of Catejo-Munoz. Webster has stated that neither of those statements are true. He would not go into detail how Menjivar knew the victims.

Asked if someone came forward with information or was DNA evidence used to narrow down Menjivar as the killer, Webster stated that he could not comment on that question.

The bodies Catejo-Munoz and Ventura were both sent back to their native countries for burial.

Webster stated that anyone with information on these killings should contact the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Bureau at 1-800-553-7443.