In a shocking turn of events, a New Jersey man, who is a registered sex offender, proposed to his girlfriend in a club, shared the joyous moment on social media, only to allegedly murder her the following day. The accused, 52-year-old Jose Melo, is said to have killed his 31-year-old fiancee, Naket Jadix Trinidad Maldonado, on December 30, at a residence in Elizabeth, as per the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.
The incident came to light when the police responded to a stabbing report at a Florida Street residence in Elizabeth on the morning of December 30. Upon arrival, the officers found Trinidad Maldonado dead at the scene. The tragedy occurred just a day after Melo had publicly proposed to Trinidad Maldonado at a local club, a moment he had shared on his Facebook page on the night of December 29. The video showed the couple sharing an embrace and a kiss after she accepted his proposal.
Trinidad Maldonado, a mother of two, was fondly known as “Naky” among her family and friends. Her aunt, Yolanda De, set up a GoFundMe page to help with the aftermath of the tragedy. The page describes the incident as a senseless act of evil, leaving her two children without either parent and with limited options for their future. The family in Florida is doing all they can, and De, being the only family in New Jersey, is handling her affairs and planning for the funeral and memorial services.
Melo, a convicted sex offender, has been charged with first-degree murder, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon. Trinidad Maldonado, originally from Puerto Rico, will be laid to rest there after funeral services in Florida and New Jersey. Her children are currently under the care of family members, and permanent arrangements are being worked out.
The New Jersey Sex Offender’s Registry reveals that Melo was convicted in 2010 for aggravated criminal sexual contact. He had threatened a woman with a box cutter and sexually assaulted her. He is classified as a “Tier 2” offender, indicating a moderate risk. The police have not yet disclosed a motive for Trinidad Maldonado’s murder.