Body of Missing Hofstra Grad Found in NJ

Whatever was going on last weekend inside the Grand Sutton condo tower on the Upper East Side of Manhattan lies at the center of an unraveling investigation into the apparent murder of Joseph Comunale, a 26-year-old Hofstra University graduate who went missing Saturday night and whose body was discovered Wednesday in a shallow grave in Oceanport, N.J.

Comunale, of Stamford, Conn., was last seen over the weekend at the Grand Sutton, located on East 59th St. and 1st Avenue, according to the New York Daily News.

He was reportedly partying there with two men and three women in the apartment of 25-year-old James Rackover, son to Jeffrey Rackover — the same famous Manhattan jeweler, it turns out, who helped Donald Trump pick out an engagement ring for Melania.

The NYPD flashed the younger Rackover a search warrant Wednesday and entered his apartment, where they found evidence of foul play relating to Comunale's disappearance and death, an NYPD spokesman told Patch.

Earlier in the investigation, police had discovered bloody sheets and what they believed to be Comunale's pants in a garbage bag outside the building, the Daily News reported.

After his party guests left the building Sunday, the apartment owner reportedly started acting super shady. Around 6:30 p.m., he called the front desk to ask for a luggage cart, the News reported — which he later used to roll two suitcases out of the building.

Police took Rackover into custody at the scene and are holding him on the unrelated charge of "aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle," an NYPD spokesman said.

Jeffrey Rackover, James' father, owns Jeffrey Rackover Diamonds, a Midtown-based jewelry store frequented by A-list stars. A 2008 article in Haute Living identified Rackover as Oprah's “go-to guy” for jewelry.

The same article said Rackover helped Donald Trump pick out a diamond ring for his then-girlfriend, Melania.

"When proposing to his current wife, Melania, Donald Trump went directly to Rackover, due to his impeccable reputation amongst the rich and famous and his dedicated passion for diamonds," the article said.

Comunale is listed as a resident of Stamford, Conn., and a graduate of Hofstra University on Long Island. He was reported missing by his father.

The NYPD is one of three law-enforcement agencies involved in the investigation. An NYPD spokesman told Patch that as of Wednesday, it is still unclear which agency will take the lead role in the case.

In its online listing, the Grand Sutton is described "an intimate building" with all the classic Upper East Side amenities: a doorman, concierge, courtyard garden, gym, etc. Condos in the building currently sell for around $2 million and rent for around $6,000 per month.

Image of the Grand Sutton via Google Maps

By Brendan Krisel