Affidavit: Romantic affair may have led to Howell Township murder
News 12 obtained the affidavit of probable cause and the 911 audio tapes from the morning of the homicide.
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Court documents reveal jealousy may have played a role in a murder that left a Howell Township man dead earlier this month.
News 12 obtained the affidavit of probable cause and the 911 audio tapes from the morning of the homicide. A witness called 911 just before 7 a.m. on June 5, saying he saw a bloodied man inside a car still running with its hazard lights on, parked on the side of White Street.
Police identified the man found inside the car as 36-year-old Rolando Acte Mejia, of Howell.
Following the 911 call, police raided two homes in nearby neighborhoods.
Over the weekend, Monmouth County prosecutors announced the arrest of 33-year-old Juan Jesus Mejia Yanza, also of Howell, and charged him with murder.
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According to the affidavit of probable cause, the two men knew each other. Court papers say Mejia was involved romantically with a woman while living with her and her family. Mejia moved into another home trying to end that affair, but the woman continued to pursue him.
This woman also told police she was married to Yanza and confessed to him the affair with Mejia. Yanza allegedly became upset by the news and begged her to stay with him.
According to court documents, around 10:30 p.m., on the night of the murder, Yanza followed the victim to the Wawa parking lot at the intersection of White Street and Route 9 where he watched Mejia for about an hour, who was talking on the phone with Yanza’s wife. When Mejia pulled out of the lot, Yanza followed him down White Street and activated aftermarket LED lights in his own vehicle, pulling Mejia over like it was a traffic stop. Two shell casings and a bullet were recovered at the scene.
Cellphone records and video evidence placed Yanza at the Wawa, the shooting scene down White Street and returning home later that night, according to the affidavit.
Police did not say if the two men were related or how they knew each other prior to the affair confession. Yanza remains at the Monmouth County jail.
