'Gruesome': Man found guilty of decapitating man, playing soccer with his head
Portrait of Natalie Neysa AlundNatalie Neysa Alund
USA TODAY
Editor's note: Contents of this story may be disturbing to some readers.
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.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/03/07/man-decapitating-played-soccer-with-head/81906302007/
