Crime & Safety
Stamford Man's Body Found in N.J., Star Jeweler's Son Taken Into Custody
Joseph Comunale was last seen inManhattan. Evidence of foul play was found at the jeweler's son's apartment, according to the NYPD.
STAMFORD, CT—A Stamford man who attended the Manhattan party of a famous jeweler's son was found in a shallow New Jersey grave Wednesday.
Joseph Comunale, 26, was last seen over the weekend at the Grand Sutton on East 59th St. and 1st Avenue, according to the New York Daily News. His father reported him missing.
He was reportedly partying there with two men and three women in the apartment of 25-year-old James Rackover, son to Jeffrey Rackover — the same famous Manhattan jeweler who helped Donald Trump pick out an engagement ring for Melania.
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The NYPD searched James Rackover's apartment and found signs of foul play connected to Comunale's disappearance, a NYPD spokesman told Patch.
Condos in the building typically sell for around $2 million and rent is about $6,000 per month.
Find out what's happening in Stamfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A pair of bloody sheets and pants were found outside of the apartment building in a garbage bag, according to the Daily News. Rackover asked the apartment building's front desk for a luggage cart which was used to roll two suitcases out of the building after his guests left Sunday.
Rackover was taken into custody on an unrelated charge of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, according to the NYPD.
Communale's body was found in Oceanport in Monmouth County, according to NBC Connecticut. The body was found in a wooded area behind a former police department that relocated after Hurricane Sandy.
Others have been questioned in the case and at least one person was uncooperative, according to the Daily News.
Comunale was a sales associate at Tri-Ed Ltd., a company that sells security devices such as CCTV cameras.
Where is Joey Comunale? 26 yo Stamford CT man missing. Suspicious evidence taken from Manhattan apartment where he was Sunday #NBC4NY pic.twitter.com/G8u4OXldJL
— Katherine Creag (@katcreag4NY) November 16, 2016
Additional reporting by By Brendan Krisel (Patch National Staff) -
Image of the Grand Sutton via Google Maps
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