NEW JERSEY: A couple from New Jersey has been found guilty of robbing and killing an Indian-American man and leaving his body in a park, earlier this year. Joseph Villani and girlfriend Raquel Garajau are charged in a 13-count indictment May 15, of slaying 29 year old Trupal Patel.
Villani, 21, was arrested in late February after Garajau reported interactions with him in the moments before and after Patel's death to the police. Garajau, 20, appeared in court for the first time, on May 16. Both of them are charged with first-degree murder, first-degree felony murder, first-degree robbery, second-degree disturbing or desecrating human remains, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of an assault rifle, 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.
Patel, nine months before his death, was arrested along with two others for possession of over four pounds of marijuana and an ounce of psilocybin mushrooms. When Villani was arrested in Patel's death case, Christopher Decker, a Monmouth County assistant prosecutor said that he had voiced his plans to rob Patel numerous times. He said Villani asked his best friend how Patel usually operated, how much money and marijuana he usually carried and what kind of car he drove.
The victim was reported missing by a friend on February 9 to the Asbury Park Police Deparment and his black 2003 jaguar was found abandoned on a city street. Patel's body was found wrapped in a blue blanket by a Shark River Park county park ranger.
