LAS CRUCES, NM – A jury in New Mexico has convicted a 28-year-old man of first-degree murder for the brutal 2021 killing of a man in a local park, where afterward, the attacker used the victim’s head as a soccer ball, prosecutors announced.

Joel Arciniega-Saenz was found guilty of fatally stabbing 51-year-old James Garcia 84 times at Apodaca Park in Las Cruces. The attack, which also involved the decapitation of Garcia, stirred community disturbance, compounded further by delays in the court process due to evaluations of Arciniega-Saenz’s mental competency.

The crime scene, located about 45 miles north of El Paso, Texas, became the nexus of a grim murder as Arciniega-Saenz, who was living in the park, employed a switchblade to carry out the attack. Prosecutors described the slew of violent acts, including the severing of Garcia’s middle finger and the post-murder obscenity involving Garcia’s head.

Acknowledging the legal and investigative efforts, District Attorney Fernando Macias emphasized the resolve of his office to seek justice for Garcia and his family. “We extend our condolences and continue to be committed to holding perpetrators of violent crimes accountable,” Macias stated.

The trial spotlighted the diligence of local law enforcement, with Chief Deputy District Attorney Melissa Garcia commending the commitment of the Las Cruces Police Department, noting their rigorous investigation from the crime’s onset.

In his confession, Arciniega-Saenz cited alleged past grievances as a motive, claiming the murder was a reaction to Garcia’s alleged assault on his wife years prior, incidents Arciniega-Saenz relayed during police interviews following his arrest.

According to court-affiliated documents, Arciniega-Saenz admitted to confronting Garcia at the park days after the theft of his belongings, which purportedly occurred following a shared social encounter where the defendant and his wife had fallen asleep in Garcia’s company.

Investigation into the crime was swift, with responding officers finding Arciniega-Saenz near the crime scene, his clothing heavily stained with blood, as officers discovered a bloodied knife embedded in the ground close by.

This conviction marks Arciniega-Saenz’s second high-profile brush with homicide charges, once being the primary suspect in the 2017 shooting death of Benjamin Isaac Montoya in a Las Cruces hotel. That case fell apart due to a lack of evidence, including failure to locate the murder weapon, though the incident lingers amidst unresolved questions.

Krystal Montoya, sister of the prior alleged victim, expressed visible distress over the recent proceedings, recalling the chaotic emotions spurred by Arciniega-Saenz’s repeated involvement in violent acts.

Before the murder of Garcia, Arciniega-Saenz had garnered media attention after accusations of vandalism and throwing rocks at businesses in the Mesquite Historic District of Las Cruces, further cementing his pattern of disruptive behavior.

The community now braces for the sentencing phase, contemplating justice for James Garcia amidst broader reflections on public safety and crime deterrence.