A yearslong manhunt tied to a fatal nightclub stabbing in Passaic has ended with the arrest of a 35-year-old fugitive in the Bronx, closing a case that stretched across multiple states and agencies. The suspect, identified as Jean Cordero of Passaic, was taken into custody without incident after authorities tracked him to a residence in New York City.
PASSAIC, NJ – The arrest stems from a November 2020 homicide outside the Fiesta Night Club on President Street, where 36-year-old Juan Marquez was fatally stabbed. Following the killing, Cordero was charged with first-degree murder, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.
The New Jersey State Police Fugitive Unit joined the search shortly after the charges were filed, working alongside the Passaic Police Department and the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office. Over the next several years, the investigation expanded nationwide, involving the U.S. Marshals Service and multiple law enforcement agencies.
Multi-agency search leads to New York break
Authorities said the case gained renewed traction in May 2025, when Cordero was added to the New Jersey State Police Most Wanted List. Investigators later developed information placing him in the Bronx.
On March 24, 2026, members of the NJSP Fugitive Unit and the U.S. Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force executed a warrant at a residence on East Mosholu Parkway. Cordero was located inside and arrested without incident.
Extradition returns suspect to New Jersey custody
Cordero was extradited back to New Jersey on April 6, 2026, and is now being held at the Passaic County Jail. The charges remain pending as the case proceeds through the court system.
Officials reiterated that all charges are accusations, and Cordero is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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