NORTH BERGEN AND BEYOND – At a press conference held in Atlantic City this afternoon, Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel announced that a man and a women have been arrested and charged with the kidnapping and car-jacking of a North Bergen man.
According to a press release from Housel’s office, police arrested Craig Arno, 44, of Atlantic City, and Jessica Kisby, 24, of Egg Harbor Township on Friday morning at 11:45 a.m. at the Golden Key Hotel in Egg Harbor Township. They were transported to the Atlantic County Justice Facility, where cash bail was set at $400,000.
Martin Caballero, 47, of North Bergen, was last seen on Friday, May 21 at 10:30 p.m. outside the Taj Mahal Casino. He had just dropped off his wife at the hotel’s entrance and was in Atlantic City to celebrate his daughter Jessica’s 22nd birthday with his family. However, his family has not seen him since he left to park his 2009 Lincoln MKS in the self-park lot.
Authorities said that Kisby and Arno allegedly car-jacked Caballero inside of the parking lot. Housel said that Arno and Kisby allegedly followed him in a silver Toyota before “approaching” him. Afterward, both cars left the garage. Housel said that Arno allegedly used the victim’s ATM card at the Bank of America in Egg Harbor, taking out $300 at 1:07 a.m. A few minutes later, the vehicle was observed at an Exxon gas station in Pleasantville, where a female allegedly obtained gas and a lighter.
He said that both cars traveled north to Gloucester Township, where Arno apparently suffered serious burns while allegedly lighting Caballero’s vehicle on fire.
The car was found “engulfed in flames” around 2:30 a.m. behind the Democratic Club in Gloucester Township with no one inside.
According to published reports, Arno was released from prison in New Jersey on March 29. He also reportedly has a lengthy criminal history, including being charged with murder in Philadelphia in 1981 after he allegedly slammed into a woman’s car while drag racing.
Officials said that Caballero has yet to be found. Earlier press reports about the discovery of a body have not been confirmed by authorities.
Housel asked that anyone who observed suspicious activity involving two men and a woman exiting Exit 12 off the Atlantic City Expressway in a silver Toyota and the victim’s Lincoln between 11:36 p.m. and 12:37 p.m. on May 22 should contact authorities immediately by calling the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at (609) 909-7800 or the Atlantic City Police Department at (609) 347-5766.
Check back at www.hudsonreporter.com for updates. – Tricia Tirella
Our Digital Archive from 2000 – 2016
