Woman Gets 33 Years In Murder Of Brick Man Dumped In Park

FREEHOLD, NJ — A Monmouth County woman has been sentenced to 33 years in prison for her role in the murder of a Brick Township man whose body was dumped in a Monmouth County park in 2017, the Monmouth County prosecutor's office announced.

Raquel Garajau, 21, of Tinton Falls, was convicted by a Monmouth County jury in September 2018 of felony murder and other charged in the killing of Trupal Patel, 29, of Brick, following a two-month trial.

Garajau also was convicted of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery, 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 (her boyfriend, Joseph Villani) and tampering with a witness.

Villani, 22, pleaded guilty earlier this month to first-degree manslaughter in the murder. Patel was shot and killed in Villani's Ocean Township garage on Feb. 6 as part of a plot to rob Patel, who was a known marijuana dealer.

Patel's body was found two weeks later 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, and as the investigation continued, Garajau, who was an honor student at Brookdale Community College, was arrested and charged May 15, 2017.

Garajau rejected a plea deal in May 2018 that would have allowed her to plead guilty to armed robbery with a 10-year prison sentence.

The prosecutor's office said more details on the sentencing would be released later Friday.

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