Man Convicted of Decapitating Victim and Playing ‘Soccer’ with His Head in N.M Park: Prosecutor
After decapitating James Garcia, 51, in a Las Cruces park, Joel Arciniega-Saenz, 28, kicked his severed head at 14 different cars, an affidavit alleged
A New Mexico man who decapitated a 51-year-old victim and “played soccer” with his head has been found guilty of murder.
Joel Arciniega-Saenz, 28, of Las Cruces, was convicted of first-degree murder on Wednesday, March 5 for the grisly slaying of James Garcia on June 20, 2021, Doña Ana County District Attorney Fernando Macias announced.
Arciniega-Saenz, who was homeless at the time of the crime, “carried out a horrific attack on the victim, stabbing Garcia 84 times with a small switchblade,” Macias said in a statement.
The attacker “decapitated Garcia and severed his finger,” said Macias. After that, Arciniega-Saenz proceeded to “play soccer” with the victim’s head in Apodaca Park in Las Cruces.
Arciniega-Saenz said he kicked the victim’s head at 14 different cars in the park, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by local station KTSM.
“It’s a great day for justice,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Spencer Willson said in the statement. “Our office remains committed to working diligently to make our streets safer, one case at a time.”
On the night of the attack, an officer found Garcia’s body in the middle of a road on the north side of the park, about 10 yards from his head, according to the affidavit.
Arciniega-Saenz told detectives that he, his wife and Garcia were hanging out in the park, where he said he slept, four days before the murder, according to the affidavit.
On the day of the murder, he said he and his wife fell asleep and when they woke up, they discovered that all of their belongings had been stolen, the affidavit states. They believed Garcia to be responsible.
Upset, Arciniega-Saenz found Garcia and confronted him, admitting to police that he took a switchblade knife from Garcia and stabbed him several times with it before decapitating him, per the affidavit.
After that, he said he dragged Garcia’s body into the middle of the street and “played soccer with his head.”
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Chief Deputy District Attorney Melissa Garcia thanked police for their perseverance in bringing the case to justice.
“Although our office prosecuted this case, the real heroes are the Las Cruces Police Department officers,” she said in the statement. “This was a horrific case that they investigated and stuck with from beginning to end.”
Macias noted that the verdict came “after a lengthy legal process marked by challenges surrounding the defendant’s competency.”
He continued, “Despite lengthy challenges, we remained steadfast in our pursuit of justice for those affected.”
Man convicted after decapitating victim, playing soccer with the head
by DAVID IBAVE | KFOX StaffThu, March 6, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Updated Thu, March 6, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Booking photo for Joel Arciniega-Saenz (Las Cruces Police Department)
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LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KFOX) — A man in New Mexico was found guilty of murder in a case where police said he decapitated a man and played soccer with his severed head.
On Wednesday, Joel Arciniega-Saenz was found guilty of first-degree murder after he reportedly stabbed 51-year-old James Garcia 84 times, cut off a finger, decapitated him and then kicked the head around playing soccer with it, according to Dona Ana District Attorney Fernando Macias
The incident happened at a Las Cruces park in 2021, and was a lengthy legal process as Arciniega-Saenz’s mental competency to stand trial was challenged.
“Despite lengthy challenges, we remained steadfast in our pursuit of justice for those affected,” stated Macias. “We extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of James Garcia and reaffirm our commitment to holding violent offenders accountable and ensuring the safety of this community.”
Booking photo for Joel Arciniega-Saenz (Las Cruces Police Department)
On the day of the murder, police were called to Apodaca Park after reports of a body in the roadway.
According to police documents, when officers arrived they learned Garcia had been decapitated and stabbed multiple times and found Arciniega-Saenz with dried blood on his hands and a bloody knife along his side.
While police investigators were reviewing the crime scene, they also found Garcia’s middle finger.
Police investigators found a shoe print near a pool of blood at the park where the victim’s finger was also found, stated the court document.
During the interrogation at the Las Cruces Police Department, Arciniega-Saenz told investigators that he was homeless and slept at the park.
Arciniega-Saenz allegedly told investigators that Garcia had raped his wife four years ago, but he refused to identify his “wife.”
He then described to police investigators what led to the killing.
Arciniega-Saenz said he, his wife and Garcia had been hanging out four days before the killing.
The court document states that Arciniega-Saenz told police the three of them had fallen asleep.
He said when he and his wife woke up, Garcia was gone with their belongings.
Arciniega-Saenz said he followed Garcia to Apodaca Park to confront him.
During the confrontation, Arciniega-Saenz took a knife from Garcia and stabbed him several times and cut his head off.
He then told investigators that he dragged Garcia’s body to the street and played soccer with Garcia’s head.
Arciniega-Saenz is being held at the Dona Ana County Detention Center on a murder charge.
