What's next for N.J. man convicted of killing mother-in-law with machete?

JERSEY CITY -- A Jersey City man sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing his 82-year-old mother-in-law with a machete continues to undergo evaluation and has yet to be sent to his eventual state prison facility. When he pleaded guilty in November,...

What's next for N.J. man convicted of killing mother-in-law with machete?

JERSEY CITY -- A Jersey City man sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing his 82-year-old mother-in-law with a machete continues to undergo evaluation and has yet to be sent to his eventual state prison facility.

When he pleaded guilty in November, Oliver Pangilinan, 54, of Winfield Avenue, faced up to 25 years in prison for the Nov. 27, 2015 aggravated manslaughter of his mother-in-law, Consolacion Escolana. He also faced up to eight years in prison for aggravated assault on his 49-year-old wife.

Pangilinan pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 years in prison by Hudson County Superior Court Judge Mitzy Galis-Menendez on Feb. 3. At the plea hearing, Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Michael D'Andrea told the judge he did not object to the two terms being served concurrently. 

Pangilinan is currently at the Central Reception and Assignment Facility in Trenton where prisoners are evaluated based on their presentence report, mental health background, the nature of the crime, substance abuse history and other factors.

A determination is then made on where the inmate will serve his prison term and whether it will be in a minimum, medium or maximum security prison. 

At the plea hearing, defense attorney Joseph Russo asked Pangilinan if he struck his mother-in-law in the head with the machete during an argument and Pangilinan said he did so twice. He also admitted striking his wife in the head with the machete.  

During the hearing Russo said his client "has lot of mental issues," and also submitted an evaluation addressing those mental health issues, which were to be considered for purposes of sentencing.

During a hearing when Pangilinan's bail was set at $1 million, D'Andrea said that after the homicidal attack, Pangilinan fled the scene. He said that Pangilinan caused an accident with a semi-trailer during a high speed chase on the New Jersey Turnpike, before eventually being arrested by State Police near Exit 11 in Woodbridge Township.

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