Man charged in fatal shootings of 2 women will remain jailed March 8, 2021 FacebookTwitterEmail NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A corrections officer accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend and her friend shortly after the women had returned home from a vacation trip will remain jailed until his murder trial, a judge rule Monday. Essex County Judge Ronald Wigler made the decision following a detention hearing. He cited the seriousness of the charges faced by John Menendez, 23, of West New York, and noted that prosecutors “seem to have a very strong case.” Defense Attorney Raoul Bustillo said Menendez does not plan to fight allegations that he killed the women, but will present a “passion-provocation” defense, arguing the shootings occurred in the heat of the moment.