Delaware News


DOJ, DSP Secure Indictment and Arrest in 2009 Homicide 

Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | News | Date Posted: Monday, May 1, 2023


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A Newark man has been indicted and arrested for a 2009 homicide following a cold case investigation.

On April 24, 31-year-old Ricardo J. Vega was indicted on two counts of Murder 1st Degree for the killing of 19-year-old Justin Trnka. Trnka, also of Newark, was killed during an armed robbery on March17,2009. Potential charges for the armed robbery are subject to a statute of limitations that elapsed during the pendency of the investigation. Delaware State Police took Vega into custody for the murder charges on April 26.

“I am grateful to our prosecutors and the Delaware State Police for their dogged persistence in this investigation,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “After all these years, the victim and his family deserve justice. I know how challenging these cases are, and it’s a testament to the skill and professionalism of the Delaware State Police that we could crack this case after 14 years and bring it before a grand jury.”

If convicted on either charge, Vega faces a mandatory life sentence. His indictment was secured by Deputy Attorneys General Zachary Rosen and Isaac Rank with the assistance of Paralegal Stacey Coupe following an investigation led by Michael Maher of the Delaware State Police.

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DOJ, DSP Secure Indictment and Arrest in 2009 Homicide 

Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | News | Date Posted: Monday, May 1, 2023


Navy blue background featuring the Delaware state seal in the center

A Newark man has been indicted and arrested for a 2009 homicide following a cold case investigation.

On April 24, 31-year-old Ricardo J. Vega was indicted on two counts of Murder 1st Degree for the killing of 19-year-old Justin Trnka. Trnka, also of Newark, was killed during an armed robbery on March17,2009. Potential charges for the armed robbery are subject to a statute of limitations that elapsed during the pendency of the investigation. Delaware State Police took Vega into custody for the murder charges on April 26.

“I am grateful to our prosecutors and the Delaware State Police for their dogged persistence in this investigation,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “After all these years, the victim and his family deserve justice. I know how challenging these cases are, and it’s a testament to the skill and professionalism of the Delaware State Police that we could crack this case after 14 years and bring it before a grand jury.”

If convicted on either charge, Vega faces a mandatory life sentence. His indictment was secured by Deputy Attorneys General Zachary Rosen and Isaac Rank with the assistance of Paralegal Stacey Coupe following an investigation led by Michael Maher of the Delaware State Police.

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.