A Manhattan judge has handed down a 39-years-to-life sentence to Aljo Mrkulic for the killing of 30-year-old Christopher Rodriguez in an East Harlem apartment that went up in flames in 2020, the Manhattan district attorney announced Wednesday. Prosecutors said the prison term also covers arson and assaults on police officers, closing the book on a case that began with a deadly blaze high above East 120th Street.
DA's announcement and sentence details
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a post on X that Mrkulic received a sentence of 39 years-to-life for murdering Rodriguez, setting his East Harlem apartment on fire and assaulting three responding NYPD officers, according to Alvin Bragg. The post outlined the sentence and the key charges that were resolved at Wednesday's hearing.
What happened in 2020
In May 2020, first responders were called to a ninth-floor unit at Acacia Gardens at 409 East 120th Street, where a fire was tearing through an apartment, according to CBS New York. After firefighters knocked down the flames, they discovered the tenant, later identified as Rodriguez, dead inside with multiple stab wounds.
Authorities arrested then-31-year-old Mrkulic at the scene after a struggle with officers, who described him as combative. Several officers were treated for smoke inhalation following the encounter, according to ABC7.
Trial and evidence
The case moved through Manhattan Criminal Court and ultimately went to trial in 2025. Coverage of an October bench proceeding shows Justice Curtis J. Farber presiding and includes testimony describing Mrkulic's behavior as "not rational," according to Inner City Press. That report also notes that prosecutors played video they said showed Mrkulic dragging Rodriguez's body.
What the sentence means
The 39-years-to-life sentence is an indeterminate term, which sets a minimum amount of time Mrkulic must serve before he can go before the state parole board. As the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision explains, people serving "years-to-life" terms must complete the court-ordered minimum before the Board of Parole can consider discretionary release, though limited program credits can affect when a parole appearance is scheduled, according to DOCCS.
Where things stand
The DA's public statement lays out the sentence and core charges, but the official court docket and sentencing minutes will contain the full judgment, including any restitution, surcharges or post-release supervision ordered by the judge. Those records will also list the exact counts of conviction and any additional terms imposed at the sentencing hearing.
