Man decapitates victim with switchblade, ‘plays soccer’ with head, NM officials say
A man was found guilty in the 2021 killing of a 51-year-old, New Mexico officials said.
In June 2021, Joel Arciniega-Saenz stabbed James Garcia 84 times and severed a finger with a switchblade before decapitating him, according to a March 5 news release by the Doña Ana County District Attorney’s Office.
After decapitating Garcia, Arciniega-Saenz went to “play soccer” with his head, officials said.
During an interview with Las Cruces officers, Arciniega-Saenz told officials that Garcia stole his belongings and confronting him led to the killing, officials told KFOX.
He was found guilty of first-degree murder, officials said.
Las Cruces is about a 220-mile drive southeast from Albuquerque.