WEST NYACK, NY – Joseph Janulewicz, 65, of West Nyack, New York, has pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree in the homicide case of Brian Romney.
Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced the plea, which was made before the Honorable Larry J. Schwartz. The case revolves around the disappearance and subsequent death of Brian Romney, a resident of Greenwood Lake in Orange County. Romney was reported missing on June 10, 2022, after failing to arrive at a relative’s home in West Nyack.
New York State Police, assisting in the missing person investigation, located Romney’s vehicle in West Nyack on June 15, 2022. The execution of a search warrant at Janulewicz’s residence at 35 East Street led to the grim discovery of Romney’s body, concealed in a tarp, on June 16, 2022. The victim had suffered over a dozen stab wounds, leading the Medical Examiner to rule his death a homicide.
Janulewicz admitted to causing Romney’s death by stabbing him multiple times, including a fatal wound to the back, and then hiding the body in his residence. District Attorney Walsh commended the New York State Police and the Village of Greenwood Lake Police Department for their work in the investigation.
Janulewicz is currently remanded to Rockland County Jail, awaiting sentencing scheduled for January 17, 2024. He is expected to be sentenced to 15 years in state prison with 5 years post-release supervision. Executive Assistant District Attorneys Doreen Lloyd and Michael Dugandzic are prosecuting the case.