Hiciano, a 37-year-old mother of four, was fatally strangled by Vargas in March of 2015. When Hiciano failed to return from her job at El Merengue restaurant, her family reported her missing on March 10, 2015. Four days later her body was discovered in an apartment building on South 20^th Street in Newark. The victim and the defendant had a romantic relationship.

On Sept. 11, 2017 an Essex County jury convicted Vargas of first degree murder. Today, Judge Teare sentenced Vargas to 30 years. He must serve all 30 years before he is eligible for parole. This is his first felony conviction.

“His selfish and cowardly act of extreme domestic violence carried out against Ms. Hiciano left a still grieving family without a mother.  Ms. Hiciano was a wonderful mother and a dear friend to all that knew her. We hope that this verdict and sentence will help her children and extended family find some degree of closure in what has surely been a difficult process for them,’’ said   Assistant Prosecutor Eric Plant, who tried the case with assistance from Assistant Prosecutor Sarah Vander Woude.