CAMDEN CITY, NJ (April 14, 2014)(CNBNews)—Camden County Prosecutor Warren W. Faulk and Camden County Police Chief Scott Thomson reported two men are in custody in a double homicide from 2013.
Jorge Lopez, M/35, of Gloucester City, and Jose Cortes, M/38, of Riverton, are each charged with two counts of Murder for the deaths of Christopher Humphrey, M/34, of Franklinville, and Jose Vega, M/35, of Camden. The two victims were found fatally shot at 33rd and Farragut streets on December 22, 2013.
Lopez was arrested April 11 in Camden and Cortes was taken into custody Monday, April 14 in Riverton, NJ.
It is alleged the two defendants killed Humphrey and Vega at a home on the 700 block of South 4th Street on December 21, 2013, and then moved the bodies to a wooded area near 33rd and Farragut streets.
According to Courier Post reporter Phil Dunn the prosecutor’s office credited Detective John Hunsinger and county police Detective Edward Kunkel for the arrests.
Jason Laughlin, spokesperson for the prosecutors office said a break came after a narcotics search warrant was executed on a home on the 700 block of South 4th Street. The drug house was allegedly run by Lopez, according to a probable-cause statement read in court Monday April 14.
During the search, officers noticed blood. A second search warrant was obtained, and the blood matched that of the victims. A similar search was done on an SUV owned by Cortes, a.k.a. “Wink,” and blood was found on the tailgate of the vehicle and was again linked to Humphrey and Vega, according to the probable-cause statement.
Authorities say the two killed Humphrey and Vega in the South 4th Street home, then moved the bodies to a wooded area near 33rd and Farragut streets.
The victims allegedly worked for Lopez and Cortes dealing drugs and were killed after Lopez accused the victims of selling someone else’s drugs on his turf, according to the probable cause statement.
Lopez is being held in lieu of $2 million cash bail. The amount of Cortes’ bail is not known at this time.
All persons charged with criminal offenses are innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.