Comunale Homicide: Suspects Make Pleas, Bond Reduced

STAMFORD, CT — Two suspects in the Stamford-native Joseph Comunale homicide case pleaded not guilty and one had his bond reduced.

James Rackover and Lawrence Dilione made the pleas to charges of hindering prosecution, tampering with evidence and concealing a corpse, according to the Stamford Advocate.

The NYPD originally charged them with murder, but the charges were withdrawn by prosecutors pending further investigation into who stabbed Comunale to death.

The homicide occurred in Rackover's apartment in the Grand Sutton tower — located on located on East 59th Street near First Avenue, according to the NYPD.

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Rackover's bond was reduced from $1 million to $300,000. His mother's home in Florida could be used for a bond, his attorney said during a court appearance.

The two are expected in court during late January.

Comunale's body was dug from a shallow grave in a remote, wooded area of Oceanport, N.J. His body had at least 15 stab wounds, a broken pelvis and burn marks, according to police and the DA's office.

The wounds suggested that Comunale was killed with a knife and that his body had been dropped from a high distance. A large duffel bag was discovered near the burial site, according to the DA's office.
According to the DA's office one of the suspects, Dilione, admitted to police that he and another man took Comunale's body to New Jersey.

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