Plainfield Man Gets 40 Years For Strangling Girlfriend: Prosecutor

A 24-year-old Plainfield man was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Wednesday, May 15, for strangling his 19-year-old girlfriend to death in 2020, authorities said.

Bryan Gonzalez Martinez
Photo Credit: *Essex County Department of Corrections*

Sam Barron

05/17/2024 12:14 p.m.

On July 6, 2020, Plainfield police conducted a welfare check and found the body of 19-year-old Brenda Montoya-Cruz, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel and Plainfield Police Director James T. Abney said.

Bryan Gonzales-Martinez was convicted of first-degree murder last June, authorities said. He must serve 85% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole, authorities said.

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