Bergen County Couple Charged In False Home Invasion Report
Thursday, October 30, 2025, 12:45 P.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
MOONACHIE, NJ.- Earlier this month, following an investigation, a Moonachie, New Jersey couple was taken into custody and criminally charged in connection with falsely reporting a home invasion and shooting that occurred during the early morning hours of Tuesday, October 14, 2025, in Moonachie, New Jersey.
According to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella, on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, just shortly before 6:45 a.m., members of the Moonachie Police Department responded to a 911 Emergency Call from a man and a woman requesting immediate police assistance at a Moonachie residence.
Upon arrival, Police Officers encountered the couple, later identified as Juan B. Rodriguez-Santos, 30, and Lisa M. Palacio, 29, both of Moonachie, New Jersey, inside their residence. Police Officers discovered that Rodtiguez-Santos was suffering from a gunshot wound to his leg. Rodriguez-Santos was transported to an area hospital, where he was treated and released.
Detectives of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, with the assistance of the Moonachie Police Department, launched an investigation.
The preliminary investigation uncovered that during the initial response by the Police, Rodriguez-Santos told Police Officers he was suffering from a stab wound, but later reported to law enforcement that an unknown man, wearing a face mask, entered their home and attempted to rob him, and shot him in the leg with a handgun. Palacio initially told Police Officers that she knew an individual had entered their home and shot Rodriguez-Santos, but later informed Detectives that she was unaware of what happened to him.
As the investigation moved forward, Detectives determined that no home invasion or robbery had occurred and that Rodriguez-Santos shot himself in the leg. Detectives also determined that, following shooting himself in the leg, Palacio hid the firearm from responding Police Officers. Additionally, Rodriguez-Santos was in possession of another’s ID when Police Officers arrived.
Accordingly, on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, Rodriguez-Santos was taken into custody and formally charged with second-degree Making False Reports to Law Enforcement Authorities; two counts of third-degree Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution; fourth-degree Trafficking in Personal Identification Information Pertaining to Another Person; and fourth-degree Tampering with Physical Evidence.
Additionally, on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, Palacio was taken into custody and formally charged with second-degree Making False Reports to Law Enforcement Authorities; third-degree Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution by Concealing Evidence; third-degree Hindering Apprehension; and fourth-degree Tampering with Physical Evidence. Both Rodriguez-Santos and Palacio were processed on the charges and were remanded to the Bergen County Jail.
On Thursday, October 16, 2025, Rodriguez-Santos and Palacio made their initial appearance in Bergen County Superior Court and were released on pretrial conditions pending future court proceedings.
“The rules of the court require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”
