New Mexico Man Convicted of Decapitating Victim in Disturbing Crime

Joel Arciniega-Saenz was found guilty of an incredibly gruesome crime in which he cut the finger and decapitated a man, followed by "playing soccer" with his head.

The grisly crime took place several years ago, but there were many challenges in reaching the final verdict of guilt due to the mental competency of Arciniega-Saenz.

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Arciniega-Saenz was homeless in 2001 when he stabbed 51-year-old James Garcia 84 times, followed by cutting off his finger, decapitating him, and then kicking his severed head around like a soccer ball.

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Chief Deputy District Attorney Melissa Garcia thanked all involved in bringing justice, saying, “Although our office prosecuted this case, the real heroes are the Las Cruces Police Department officers. This was a horrific case that they investigated and stuck with from beginning to end. We commend and appreciate their dedication."

Be sure to thank your local law enforcement, wherever you may live, for handling difficult and distressing cases such as these. It's easy to forget what they go through during their day-to-day job of protecting and serving the community. It's not just speeding tickets and DUI arrests. They often face the most horrific crimes and accidents. Regular people like you and I can only imagine what they go through each day.

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