MONTAUK MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MANSLAUGHTER

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the guilty plea of 50-year-old Joseph Grippo for Manslaughter in the First Degree after he bludgeoned an ex-girlfriend’s love interest to death. Grippo now faces 20 years in prison plus 5 years post release supervision on the Manslaughter charge.

“This defendant chose to hurt another human being because he was scorned, and ended up killing him. While his admission of guilt and incarceration provide a form of justice for the victim’s loved ones and family, it won’t bring him back,” said Tierney. “This sentence ensures this defendant won’t cause any more harm to others for a very long time.” 

According to court documents and the defendant’s own admission, on June 6, 2019, shortly after 7 a.m., Grippo bludgeoned Robert Casado, 38, with a pick axe handle.

Casado was on his way to work where he was a seasonal worker when he was ambushed by the defendant on Kirk Park Trail in Montauk. 

Casado was known to the defendant, as they both had been romantically involved with the same woman. 

The murder weapon was never recovered, however, Grippo admitted during his plea that he purchased the 36-inch murder weapon only a couple weeks earlier with the purpose of using it on Casado.

He also admitted that he was driven to the incident location by a witness who told investigators that he dropped Grippo off in close proximity to the incident location.  That witness had no knowledge of Grippo’s plan to murder Casado.  When Grippo called the witness to pick him up after the murder, the witness observed Grippo had blood on his hands and a “wooden object” also stained in blood in his possession. Grippo also admitted he got rid of the weapon during the day of the murder at a recycling center in Montauk.

This case was heard before the Honorable Stephen Braslow. He is due back in court for sentencing on September 7, 2022 and he was represented by Daniel Russo and Keith O’Halloran.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Eric Aboulafia of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Emma Henry of the Case Advisory Bureau.

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Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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