Darwin Estrada-Cruz
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Department Officer-In-Charge Isa Abbassi announce that based upon an investigation by the Paterson Police Department, in conjunction with the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Darwin Estrada-Cruz, 22-years-old from Paterson, was arrested on April 1, 2024, in connection to the homicide that took place earlier that day in the area of Straight Street and 16th Avenue in Paterson.
Darwin Estrada-Cruz is charged with first-degree Murder, which has a sentencing range of 30 years to life imprisonment.
On April 1, 2024, at approximately 1:54 a.m., officers from the Paterson Police Department were dispatched to the area of Straight Street and 16th Avenue on a reported fight. Upon their arrival, officers located the victim, Jose Estrada-Cruz, a 31-year-old male from Paterson, unresponsive inside a basement apartment. The victim was subsequently pronounced deceased. During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that the victim’s cousin, Darwin Estrada-Cruz, caused the victim’s death.
Darwin Estrada-Cruz is scheduled to appear at Central Judicial Processing April 2, 2024 at 1:30 for his first Appearance. The State will file a motion for pretrial detention which will be heard by a Superior Court judge at a date and time to be determined by the court.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org or contact the Paterson Police Detective Bureau at 973-321-1120.