Guilty Plea In Murder Of Brick Man Dumped In Park: Prosecutor

FREEHOLD, NJ — A Monmouth County man has pleaded guilty to killing a Brick Township man whose body was found dumped in Shark River Park in 2017, the Monmouth County prosecutor's office announced Friday.

Joseph Villani, 22, of Ocean Township, pleaded guilty Friday to first-degree aggravated manslaughter and four other charges in the 2017 killing of Trupal Patel, 29, of Brick, Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said.

Villani's girlfriend, Raquel Garajau, 21, was found guilty of felony murder by a Monmouth County jury in September 2018.

Patel's body was found early on the morning of Feb. 22, 2017 in Wall's Shark River Park. He had been dumped along the side of Gully Road, down a slight slope, and was found by a Monmouth County park ranger who was collecting litter in the area. His identity was quickly confirmed as a man who had been reported missing Feb. 9 by a friend. A black 2003 Jaguar that Patel was driving prior to his disappearance was discovered abandoned on an Asbury Park street on that same day.

Villani was arrested Feb. 25, 2017; prosecutors said he shot Patel and killed him on Feb. 6, 2017 in the garage of Villani's Ocean Township home. Patel was a known marijuana dealer and authorities said detectives discovered evidence that Villani conspired with Garajau to rob and murder Patel and that she aided him in destroying and concealing evidence in connection with the robbery and homicide of Patel

Villani faces up to 40 years in prison, Gramiccioni said. He remains in the Monmouth County jail, where he has been held since his arrest. Garajau was arrested in May 2017 when the two were initially indicted.

At his plea before Judge Joseph W. Oxley, Villani admitted that while dating Garajau, the couple planned to rob Trupal Patel. Villani said Garajau assisted him with the planning of the robbery and knew he would be armed with a .22 caliber Marlin long rifle. Villani admitted to shooting the Patel three times during the robbery, which happened in the garage of Villani’s Ocean Township home. Villani said that after the killing, Garajau assisted him in hiding evidence and also shared in the proceeds of the robbery.

Villani is scheduled for sentencing on March 21 and faces a maximum of 40 years in prison, with 30 years subject to 85 percent of the sentence, or about 25.5 years, before any possible release on parole pursuant to the No Early Release Act, the prosecutor's office said.

Garajau, of Tinton Falls, was found guilty of numerous charges, including first-degree felony murder, second-degree conspiracy to commit armed robbery, first-degree armed robbery and second-degree conspiracy to commit theft of marijuana, theft of marijuana, conspiracy to commit theft of cash, theft of cash, conspiracy to possess a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, tampering with physical evidence, hindering the apprehension of oneself, hindering the apprehension of another (Villani) and tampering with a witness. Garajau is being held at the Monmouth County jail pending her sentencing before Oxley on Jan. 18, Gramiccioni said.

There was significant legal wrangling in the case that led to postponements and a more expansive indictment in November 2017. In May 2018, Garajau rejected a plea agreement that would have resulted in a 10-year prison sentence.

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Joseph Villani photo provided by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office