New York Man Who Beat His 88-Year-Old Neighbor to Death With a Hammer After She Refused to Lend Her Car Receives 25-to-Life Sentence
Watertown, New York — A 41-year-old man convicted of bludgeoning his elderly neighbor to death with a hammer because she refused to let him borrow her car has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, closing a case that shocked a quiet upstate community.
Victim Found Dead After Brutal Hammer Attack
Jonathan Melendez, 41, was sentenced Monday for the August 2023 murder of Rena Eves, an 88-year-old woman he had known for years inside the Beaver Meadows Apartments in Watertown. Prosecutors said Melendez attacked Eves inside her home, beating her repeatedly with a claw hammer after she refused to let him use her Honda Civic.
When police arrested Melendez later that day, they found he was wearing two pairs of sweatpants — the outer pair clean, the inner pair soaked in Eves’ blood.
Investigators recovered the bloody hammer in the trunk of Eves’ vehicle, stuffed inside a Walmart bag. The key fob to her car was found in Melendez’s pocket.
Defendant Claimed Evidence Was Planted
Melendez represented himself during trial and continued to claim innocence during sentencing.
“They planted the hammer. It was not Rena’s murder weapon,” he told the judge.
“You seen that they erased blood from the crime scene. Why would they do that?”
Jurors rejected his claims after hearing extensive evidence, including:
- Surveillance footage
- The hammer used in the attack
- Dozens of forensic exhibits
- Text messages between Melendez and his girlfriend
In one translated exchange, Melendez texted that he needed to “leave before doing something ugly.” His girlfriend replied, “Don’t do anything to her.”
Prosecutors Say Motive Was Clear
The Jefferson County District Attorney argued that Melendez killed Eves simply because she refused to let him borrow her car. They detailed how he later attempted to mislead authorities by calling 911 and claiming the car had been stolen.
During trial, Melendez insisted he discovered Eves’ body and delayed calling police only because he “fell asleep.” He also claimed that blood on his clothes came from a minor cut she allegedly suffered earlier.
The jury did not believe him and convicted him of:
- Second-degree murder
- Assault
- Criminal possession of a weapon
- Tampering with physical evidence
His sentences include additional consecutive time for weapon possession and evidence tampering, bringing the total to decades behind bars.
Family Calls Him a “Monster”
Eves’ family addressed the court at sentencing, describing the profound pain caused by the violent killing.
Her granddaughter, Samantha Eves-Stewart, told the judge:
“Only a monster would be so heartless to a little old lady.”
Family members also told the court that Melendez had attempted to contact them repeatedly, leading to an order of protection.
Judge Gives Maximum Sentence
Judge David Renzi did not hesitate to impose the harshest penalties allowed.
“It’s very clear to me that this community, or any community, is not safe with you around,” he said before announcing the sentence.
State records show Melendez was already serving nearly 30 years for rape and criminal contempt, meaning he will now remain in prison for most — if not all — of his life.
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