Prosecutors allege Joshua Lopez, 27, of Coram drove Thomas Garafolo, 52, to a deserted area near the Granny Road ball fields in Medford and killed him. They claim he felt cheated in a shoplifting scheme involving the theft and resale of items from the home improvement stores Home Depot and Lowe's.
Assistant District Attorney Nancy Clifford characterized Mr. Lopez as the "mastermind" of a plot to kill Mr. Garafolo, formerly of East Quogue. Prior to the fatal stabbing, Mr. Garafolo, Mr. Lopez, and his alleged accomplice, Frederick Hollman, 20, of Ronkonkoma, stole home appliances such as air conditioners and barbecues, which they sold for both cash and drugs, according to Ms. Clifford.
Feeling shorted of both the cash and the drugs, Mr. Lopez plotted to kill Mr. Garafolo and enlisted Mr. Hollman to drive with them to an isolated location June 22 so they could carry out their plan, prosecutors argued. Both men are charged with second-degree murder. If convicted, they could serve 25 years to life in prison.
Mr. Hollman used a piece of tie-down rope as a ligature to hold Mr. Garafolo in place from behind and then Mr. Lopez stabbed him 22 times in the head and neck, Ms. Clifford said.
"Mr. Garafolo was thrown from the car and stomped on by the defendants and left in the woods," Ms. Clifford told the court.
In an effort to find help, police said, Mr. Garafolo was able to make his way out of the woods and, covered in blood, collapsed in the doorway of a residence on Granny Road in Medford at about 11:23 a.m. He was pronounced dead a short time later at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue.
A dozen or so of Mr. Garafolo's family members gathered in the gallery for the court proceeding. Some linked arms and hugged each other, stifling sobs while Ms. Clifford outlined the prosecution's allegations.
After leaving Mr. Garafolo alone in the woods to die, Ms. Clifford said, the two men fled the scene in his car. They used Mr. Garafolo's cell phone to make calls and his cash to go shopping, she said.
"They bought cleaning supplies," Ms. Clifford said. "They spent a good deal of time cleaning the car, the interior and the exterior."
When they were finished, Mr. Lopez and Mr. Hollman abandoned the car with the keys in it at an undisclosed location in Suffolk County, Ms. Clifford said.
The investigation is continuing, she said.
Mr. Garafolo's nephew, who declined to give his name outside the courtroom, said his family is grieving his loss.
"He had his faults and he had his problems, but he was a good man," he said while waiting for Mr. Hollman's arraignment. "He would never hurt anyone."
Ms. Clifford recommended that Mr. Lopez, who has been in custody since his June 26 arrest, remain held without bail at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Riverhead due to his criminal history. Ms. Clifford noted that law enforcement officials learned Mr. Lopez, who is believed to be originally from the Bronx, has an active warrant returnable to New York City. He also has a prior conviction for the assault and battery of a family member in Virginia.
Mr. Lopez's attorney, Michael Brown, of Central Islip, said he does not intend to make a bail application at this time, and requested more time to review the case.
"I need more time to speak with my client," he said.
Mr. Lopez is scheduled to be back in court on July 22 for a conference.
Mr. Hollman, who is also being held without bail, was arrested the day before Mr. Lopez, shortly after he went to Riverhead police claiming to be a witness, authorities said.
His attorney, George Duncan, of Islandia, asked the court to reschedule his court appearance because he was not notified of the arraignment date, according to court officials. The arraignment has since been rescheduled for July 14.
Mr. Duncan was unavailable for comment.