NORTH BERGEN AND BEYOND — Almost a year ago, a male and female ex-con allegedly carjacked and murdered a North Bergen father who had just dropped his family off at an Atlantic City casino. On Thursday an Atlantic City Grand Jury indicted them on 39 counts in connection with the crimes in May 2010.
Craig Arno, 45, of Atlantic City, and Jessica Kisby, 25, of Egg Harbor Township, were indicted on murder, felony murder, carjacking, kidnapping, robbery, auto theft, aggravated arson, conspiracy, tampering with physical evidence, unlawful possession of weapons, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, aggravated assault, and terroristic threats, according to First Assistant Prosecutor Hames P. McClain, acting in the capacity of a special deputy attorney general because the crimes were committed in multiple counties.
Martin Caballero, 47, went missing after leaving his family to park his car in the Trump Taj Mahal parking garage on May 21, 2010. His family was there to celebrate his daughter’s birthday. They returned to look for him just 10 minutes later, but could not find him.
Arno and Kisby allegedly approached Caballero in the parking lot. The following morning on May 22, 2010 at 1:07 a.m. Arno allegedly used Caballero’s ATM card at the Bank of America in Egg Harbor Township. A short time later Kisby was allegedly identified purchasing a lighter and fire starting materials at a WaWa store in Egg Harbor, and then obtaining a gas can and gas from an attendant at a gas station in Pleasantville, NJ.
Arno and Kisby allegedly killed Caballero and abandoned his remains in a farmer’s field on Liepzig Avenue in Hamilton Township. They then allegedly drove his vehicle to Blackwood, N.J. where they allegedly set it on fire in an attempt to destroy the evidence.
The duo were arrested on kidnapping and carjacking charges and taken into custody on May 28, 2010 at the Golden Key Motel in West Atlantic City. The charges were upgraded to murder and felony murder after Caballero’s body was found on May 30.
In addition to this crime Arno is also indicted for an armed robbery that occurred the day before at a Dunkin’ Donuts, where he allegedly put a pellet gun to the head of a woman working at the counter.
Arno and Kisby were also indicted for an alleged robbery and attempted murder at a K-Mart store in Pleasantville, N.J. on May 24.
If convicted on all counts, they could face life without the possibility of parole and more than 60 years for the murder and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. — Tricia Tirella