Joseph Janulewicz, 65, of West Nyack, was sentenced to a 15-year term in state prison following his guilty plea to first-degree manslaughter, Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced. The sentence, handed down in Rockland County Court by Judge Anne B. Bianchi, also includes five years of post-release supervision. This ruling comes in the wake of Janulewicz’s November 22, 2023, guilty plea in the homicide case of Brian Romney.
The sequence of events leading to this verdict began on June 10, 2022, when Romney was reported missing after failing to show up at a relative’s home and losing contact with his family since June 8. The New York State Police joined the Village of Greenwood Lake Police Department in the ensuing missing person investigation. On June 15, Romney’s vehicle was found in West Nyack, near East Street, ultimately leading to a search warrant executed at Janulewicz’s residence at 35 East Street.
The search culminated on June 16, 2022, with the grim discovery of Romney’s body, hidden in a tarp in a storage room at Janulewicz’s home. The autopsy revealed multiple stab wounds, with the Medical Examiner confirming the death as a homicide.
In his guilty plea, Janulewicz admitted to intentionally inflicting severe physical harm on Romney, including a fatal back wound, and subsequently concealing the body in his residence. His confession played a pivotal role in the final judgment.
District Attorney Walsh commented on the case, stating, “The defendant’s brutal actions have been addressed by the justice system. The outstanding work of the New York State Police and the Village of Greenwood Lake Police Department was instrumental in ensuring a dangerous individual was removed from our community.”
The investigation, jointly conducted by the New York State Police and the Village of Greenwood Lake Police Department, was led by First Assistant District Attorney Doreen Lloyd and Executive Assistant District Attorney Michael Dugandzic. Their efforts have brought closure to a case that has deeply affected the community.