Joseph Janulewicz, a 65-year-old resident of West Nyack, New York, has pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree, a class “B” felony, in connection with the tragic homicide of Brian Romney. This announcement was made by Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II.
The case dates back to June 10, 2022, when Brian Romney, a Greenwood Lake resident in Orange County, was reported missing. A concerned relative had filed a report with the Village of Greenwood Lake Police Department when Romney failed to arrive at their West Nyack home as expected on June 8, 2022. Communication with Romney had ceased since that fateful day. In response to the missing person report, the New York State Police joined the investigation.
On June 15, 2022, Brian Romney’s vehicle was discovered in West Nyack, New York, leading authorities to focus their efforts in that area. Subsequently, a search warrant was executed at the residence located at 35 East Street in West Nyack. Inside, the lifeless body of Brian Romney was found concealed under a tarp within one of the rooms on the evening of June 16, 2022. The Medical Examiner determined that Romney had sustained over a dozen stab wounds, classifying his death as a homicide.
In his guilty plea, Joseph Janulewicz acknowledged that he had the intent to inflict serious physical harm upon Brian Romney when he repeatedly stabbed him, ultimately leading to Romney’s demise. Janulewicz admitted to concealing Romney’s body by wrapping it in a blue tarp and keeping it hidden within his residence until its discovery by the New York State Police.
District Attorney Tom Walsh commented on the case, stating, “Today’s guilty plea and the subsequent sentencing reflect a commitment to ensuring that the defendant is held fully accountable for the heinous crime he committed. The defendant has confessed to deliberately stabbing the victim multiple times, resulting in his tragic death. I commend the outstanding efforts of the New York State Police, who diligently investigated this case in collaboration with the Village of Greenwood Lake Police Department.”
Joseph Janulewicz has been remanded to the Rockland County Jail, where he will remain until his sentencing on January 17, 2024. For his conviction of Manslaughter in the First Degree, he is set to receive a 15-year prison sentence, followed by 5 years of post-release supervision. Executive Assistant District Attorneys Doreen Lloyd and Michael Dugandzic are responsible for prosecuting the case.
