TROY, N.Y. -- A fourth man is now charged in the murder of Javier Gomez, the man found beaten to death inside his Troy apartment last week. 

Cresencio Salazar was recently taken into custody in New York City. 

Lead into the courtroom wearing handcuffs, with an interpreter by his side, Cresencio Salazar appeared in Troy City Court Tuesday morning.

Salazar is the 4th arrested in connection with a pair of homicides in Rensselaer County and the first seen in front of judge in New York. 

The 26-year-old pled not guilty to one count of second degree murder for the death of 23-year-old Javier Gomez. 

Gomez, originally from Mexico, was found dead in his Glen Avenue apartment last Monday. 
 
According to court documents, Salazar hit Gomez with a hammer and stabbed him multiple times.

A day after Gomez was found dead, the body of his cousin and roommate, Christian Gonzalez Hernandez, was recovered from an area near a creek in Brunswick. 

Nobody has been charged with Hernandez's death but investigators believe the deaths are connected.

Three other men arrested in Virginia last week and charged with murder for Gomez's death. 

Luis Monge Guevara of Clifton Park, Magdalano Perez Calixto of Latham and Salomon Najera Hernandez of Mexico are being held in Virginia.

An extradition hearing is scheduled for November 17th.

Salazar is being held without bail in the Rensselaer County Jail. 

His next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday. 

Investigators still have not said what may have motivated these killings.
Authorities say both deaths are still being investigated.