Monmouth County Couple Indicted In Murder Of Brick Man Found Dead In Park: Prosecutor

FREEHOLD, NJ — A Monmouth County man previously arrested and his girlfriend have been indicted in the murder of a Brick Township man whose body was found dumped in a Monmouth County park in February, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Joseph Villani, 21, of Parkview Avenue in Ocean Township, and his girlfriend, Raquel Garajau, 20, of Frontier Way in Tinton Falls, were indicted on 13 counts including first-degree murder in the death of Trupal Patel. Patel, 29, who was found dead in Shark River Park by a Monmouth County park ranger who was collecting litter in the area, the prosecutor's office has said. Patel's body was discovered along the side of Gully Road, down a slight slope about 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 22, said Charles Webster, spokesman for the prosecutor's office.

The charges are a result of a joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean Township, Wall Township, and Asbury Park police departments, Webster said, after Patel was identified as the dead man. It was discovered that he had been reported missing to the Asbury Park Police Department by a friend on Feb. 9, and a black 2003 Jaguar that Patel was driving prior to his disappearance was discovered abandoned on an Asbury Park street on that same day, Webster said.

Detectives involved in the investigation determined the incident had occurred at Villani’s Ocean Township residence, and Villani was arrested on Feb. 25, Webster said. Villani is being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institute, he said.

Garajau was arrested May 15, according to the Monmouth County Correctional Institute records online.

Additional investigation uncovered evidence that Garajau conspired with Villani to commit the crimes and aided him in destroying and concealing evidence in connection with the murder and robbery of Patel, Webster said.

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Villani and Garajau were indicted on charges of first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, first-degree felony murder, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of an assault rifle, second-degree disturbing or desecrating human remains, three counts of fourth-degree tampering with evidence, third-degree hindering apprehension of oneself, third-degree hindering apprehension of another, and third-degree tampering with a witness, Webster said.

The murder charges carry a sentence of life in prison without parole for Villani, and life in prison or a minimum term of 30 years in prison for Garajau, if convicted. Both crimes are subject to the provisions of the No Early Release Act (NERA), which requires defendants serve 85 percent of any sentence above the 30 year minimum term, Webster said. Robbery carries a minimum of 20 years, and weapons offenses carry a maximum of 10 years in state prison with a mandatory 5-year period of parole ineligibility, pursuant to the provisions of the Graves Act.

The Asbury Park Press reported Villani was identified after an acquaintance of his contacted authorities about the car, assistant prosecutor Christopher Decker told the judge at the detention hearing. Decker said Villani's best friend told them Villani had told the best friend he planned to rob Patel of money and marijuana, according to the report.

Patch file photo