MAYS LANDING – An Egg Harbor City man charged in connection with the April 2007 killing of Jose Antonio Figueroa of Egg Harbor City has been arrested in Lawrence, Mass., Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel said last week.
An investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office and the U.S. Marshals New York-New Jersey Regional Task Force Atlantic City Division led to the capture of Juan Carlos Flores-Morales, also known as Juan Carlos Flores, 30, who has been a fugitive from justice since May.
Flores-Morales was indicted in August and charged with the murder of Figueroa, 36, who lived at the same address, a house that was converted into two apartments.
Figueroa died from blunt force trauma to the torso that ruptured his spleen, according to the results of an autopsy performed by Atlantic County Medical Examiner Hydow Park.
At approximately 5 p.m. on April 23, Figueroa was standing outside his apartment building when it is alleged Flores-Morales exited the building, walked up to Figueroa and punched him in the face.
The blow knocked Figueroa to the ground, where it is further alleged that Flores-Morales proceeded to kick Figueroa repeatedly.
Figueroa’s cousin, who was inside the building, heard screams, ran outside and pulled Flores-Morales away from Figueroa.
It is alleged that Flores-Morales ran from the scene around to the back of his residence and into his apartment.  The cousin took Figueroa inside.
At around 7:30 p.m., it became obvious that Figueroa’s injuries were more severe than first thought and an ambulance was called and transported Figueroa to the William B. Kessler Memorial Hospital in Hammonton. He was subsequently transferred to Cooper Medical Center in Camden where he died on April 27.
Flores-Morales remains in custody in Massachusetts without bail pending a hearing with regard to extradition to New Jersey to face the Atlantic County murder charges.