5 days ago
Hudson corrections officer gets 50 years in death of 2 women, including Randolph girlfriend
A former Hudson County corrections officer was sentenced to 50 years in prison for allegedly killing his girlfriend and her friend in Newark, announced the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.
On Feb. 16, 2017, John Menendez, 27, of West New York, picked up his girlfriend Anna Shpilberg, 40, of Randolph and her friend Luiza Shinkarevskaya, 40, of Newark, at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Menendez is accused of driving both women to a parking lot near the airport where he shot and killed them, said the HCPO.
Authorities said Mendez turned himself in and admitted to shooting both women. The former officer claimed "he was taking large amounts of anabolic steroids, and that made him unable to plan or intend to kill." Police said past text messages between him and Shpilberg revealed "he was angry and jealous about their trip to Mexico without him," according to the press release from the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.
On March 4, Menendez pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree aggravated manslaughter. He was sentenced on July 22.
He will serve his sentence in New Jersey State Prison.
This article originally appeared on 50 years for corrections officer in death of Randolph woman and friend
