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A man who stabbed a man 84 times, decapitated the victim and played soccer with his head was convicted of first-degree murder Thursday, prosecutors in New Mexico announced this week.
Joel Arciniega-Saenz, 28, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the brutal killing of 51-year-old James Garcia on June 20, 2021, according to a release from the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Dona Ana County District Court records show a jury convicted Arciniega-Saenz of the felony charge on Wednesday following a three-day trial before Judge Richard M. Jacquez. A sentencing date was not listed online Friday.
The verdict came on the heels of what prosecutors called “a lengthy legal process” marked by challenges surrounding the defendant’s competency.
Arciniega-Saenz, who officials said was unhoused at the time of the “gruesome” and “horrific attack,” stabbed the victim seven dozen times with a small switchblade. The convicted felon also decapitated Garcia, cut off his finger and proceeded to “play soccer” with the victim’s head following the brutal murder, prosecutors said.
“Although our office prosecuted this case, the real heroes are the Las Cruces Police Department officers,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Melissa Garcia said. “This was a horrific case that they investigated and stuck with from beginning to end. We commend and appreciate their dedication.”
Victim and killer ‘had a history’
According to the Las Cruces Sun News, part of the USA TODAY Network, in 2017 police also charged Arciniega-Saenz with first-degree murder in an unrelated incident but prosecutors dropped the count after a key witness was unable to testify.
At the time of the killing, when Arciniega-Saenz was taken into custody he told police he and Garcia had a history and said Garcia previously sexually assaulted his wife.
Arciniega-Saenz also told police that on the day of the killing, he and his wife fell asleep sometime and when they woke up their belongings were gone. Arciniega-Saenz said he followed Garcia to a park to confront Garcia and get his stuff back.
“It’s a great day for justice,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Spencer Willson, who prosecuted the case released in a statement. ” Our office remains committed to working diligently to make our streets safer, one case at a time.”
This story has been updated.
Contributing: Justin Garcia
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.