Woman Accused In Brick Man's Murder Refuses Plea Deal: Report

FREEHOLD, NJ — The Monmouth County woman accused in the murder of a Brick Township man who was a marijuana dealer has rejected a plea deal and has chosen to stand trial, according to a report.

Raquel Garajau, 21, of Tinton Falls, a student at Brookdale Community College, rejected a deal that would have allowed her to plead guilty to armed robbery with a 10-year prison sentence, the Asbury Park Press reported. Instead, she has chosen to face trial on 22 charges, including murder, with the possibility of a 125-year sentence if she's convicted on all of them, the report said. The trial has been schedulded for July 17, the report said.

Garajau and her boyfriend, Joseph C. Villani, 21, of Ocean Township, were indicted in May 2017 on charges the couple conspired to rob and murder Trupal Patel, 29, of Brick. Patel's body was found in February 22, 2017, in Shark River Park in Wall Township by a Monmouth County park ranger who was collecting litter in the area, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said at the time.

Patel, who had been reported missing 10 days earlier, had been shot to death and his body dumped, authorities said.

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Villani reportedly confessed to shooting Patel after Patel's blood was found in Villani's garage, authorities have said. Villani was arrested Feb. 25, 2017; Garajau was arrested May 15, 2017, after the indictment accusing her of participating in the murder was handed up.

Authorities allege the plan was to meet up with Patel, a known marijuana dealer, to rob him of both marijuana and money.

A trial last fall was delayed after the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office brought new charges against the pair following weeks of pretrial hearings and wrangling over evidence.

Trupal Patel photo via Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office