Karolys Gets 25 Years For Halloween Murder Of David 'Mickey' Myer

KINGSTON, NY — A monstrous act after a Halloween party will see a Hudson Valley man behind bars for a long time.

The Ulster County District Attorney's Office says that 39-year-old Joseph Karolys, of Saugerties, was sentenced to 25 years in prison, plus five years of post-release supervision, to run concurrently with his convictions of first degree manslaughter and first degree assault. He was also sentenced to an additional 1 1/3 to 4 years for his conviction of tampering with physical evidence.

The convictions followed a two-week jury trial in Ulster County Court before the Honorable Bryan Rounds that concluded on June 14.

On October 29, 2022, Joseph Karolys, David "Mickey" Myer, and Michael Cummins were driven home by Joseph Karolys, Jr., after a Halloween party at a Greene County Bar. Myer’s beaten body was found later that morning on the side of Route 32 in Saugerties.

An investigation conducted by the Saugerties Police Department and the New York State Police determined that the manner of death was homicide.

"This sentence reflects Joseph Karolys’ selfishness and lack of decency towards others – such disregard as in his polluting the water supply sources for many families, and stripping Mickey of his life and human dignity by leaving him on the side of the road to die," District Attorney Emmanuel C. Nneji said. "The impact of this crime in Saugerties is far-reaching; I am hopeful that Mickey’s family and friends in Saugerties will cherish and make a legacy of their memories of him."

It was established during the trial that Myer was brutally assaulted inside the truck and that Karolys kicked Myer in the head after he was removed from the vehicle and left him near death. Afterwards, Karolys and his son took steps to conceal the crime, including burning the steel-toe boots Karolys used in the crime in their wood stove.

Karolys then took Cummins out of town and spent several days traveling around the Lake George area as he convinced Cummins to take the rap for him, ultimately causing Cummins to bring himself into the Saugerties Police Department to cover for Karolys.

Cummins told prosecutors additional information previously unknown in the case, including Karolys' statement that Myer bit him in his hand during the assault and the bite became infected, but he told the emergency room that it was a dog bite.

The joint investigation found Myer’s blood inside the Karolys truck and home, as well as on the truck’s floor mats which had been removed from the truck and hidden.

Victim impact statements were submitted by several friends and family members of Myer. His sister, Donna Harris, spoke about her last conversation with Myer in which she wished him a happy birthday and closed with exchanges of "I love you." Jessica Jones, Ulster County Crime Victims Assistance's program director, delivered a victim impact statement on behalf of Mickey Myer’s brother, Danny Myer, describing how the pain of the loss will never go away.

"There’s no act that could ever heal the wound created when a loved one is stripped away. It is our hope that the verdict, combined with the recent sentencing, helps provide some closure for
the family and friends of Mickey Myer," Interim Chief of the Saugerties Police Department K.J. Swart said. "The outcome of the investigation demonstrates how well law enforcement officers and prosecutors work hand-in-hand to hold those who commit heinous acts accountable."