A judge's gavel - file photo
A judge's gavel - File Photo

Bayonne man gets 30 years for beating woman to death

Bayonne man sentenced to 30 years for 2020 killing of Crystal Ojeda

Jersey City, NJ – A Bayonne man will spend the next three decades in state prison after being sentenced Wednesday for the 2020 killing of a woman found dead inside her home with severe head and body trauma.

Erick Acosta, 37, was sentenced to 30 years in New Jersey State Prison by the Honorable Nesle A. Rodriguez after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated manslaughter in the death of Crystal Ojeda, 40, of Bayonne.

The sentencing concludes a five-year investigation led by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office following Ojeda’s death on October 9, 2020. That afternoon, Bayonne Police officers responded to 30 Lord Avenue to perform a welfare check. Inside, they discovered Ojeda unresponsive with visible injuries. She was pronounced dead just before 2 p.m.

A report from the Regional Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that Ojeda died from blunt force trauma to the head and body. Her death was ruled a homicide.

Hudson County Assistant Prosecutors David Feldman and John Caruso handled the case for the state. No motive was publicly disclosed at the time of sentencing.

Acosta’s 30-year sentence must be served in its entirety without the possibility of parole under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act.

Key Points

  • Erick Acosta, 37, sentenced to 30 years for 2020 aggravated manslaughter in Bayonne
  • Crystal Ojeda, 40, was found dead with blunt force trauma during a welfare check
  • The death was ruled a homicide and investigated by Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office
Chris Quigley

Chris Quigley is a Staff Writer and Community News Correspondent for Shore News Network, where she covers local government, public safety, community affairs, politics, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey. Her reporting focuses on delivering timely, accurate, and relevant news that helps readers stay informed about the communities in which they live and work.

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Through her work at Shore News Network, Chris Quigley contributes to the organization's mission of providing trusted local news coverage, accountability reporting, and community-focused journalism throughout New Jersey.

Chris Quigley is a graduate of Stockton State University and began her career at IN Jersey, the online news and media branch of the Asbury Park Press. She also worked at Monmouth Internet, the Ocean Signal Newspaper, and JTOWN Magazine during her career in both content management and operations.

Degrees: Business B.A. - Stockton University

Experience and interests: Criminal Justice, Business, Animal Care, Entertainment, Lottery News, Local News