GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The trial for the man who allegedly initiated the events which led to the discovery of a murder victim’s burned body on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay will go ahead as planned Feb. 27, lawyers said Thursday.
The body of Jason Mendez-Ramos was found at UWGB on Sept. 27, 2021. Prosecutors originally charged Pedro Santiago-Marquez with the murder, alleging Santiago-Marquez owed Mendez-Ramos $80,000 for a cocaine deal. Two others, Jeisaac Rodriguez-Garcia and Alexander Burgos-Mojica, allegedly assisted in the crime.
However, prosecutors later amended the charge against Santiago-Marquez to be a “party to the crime” count. That means the state wouldn’t have to prove Santiago-Marquez specifically killed Mendez-Ramos, just that he aided and abetted in the action.
In court Friday, the attorneys said a double-panel of prospective jurors will be called for the case against Santiago-Marquez, in part due to the pre-trial media coverage of the murder.
A five-day trial is planned.
According to the criminal complaints, Santiago-Marquez owned an east side business. At that time, Mendez-Ramos, Burgos-Mojica and Rodriguez-Garcia currently or previously worked for Santiago-Marquez. A witness told police Santiago-Marquez owed Mendez-Ramos $80,000 for a cocaine deal.
Mendez-Ramos’ body was dumped on the edge of the UWGB campus and set on fire. Security videos, cellphone tracking information and DNA tie Rodriguez-Garcia to that scene, according to the criminal complaints.
Rodriguez-Garcia is scheduled to stand trial April 19. Burgos-Mojica, who allegedly assisted, is scheduled to stand trial March 8.
