FREEHOLD – The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office said Friday the Ocean Township man accused of killing an Ocean County man has pleaded guilty.
Joseph Villani pleaded guilty to the killing of Brick Township resident Trupal Patel. He faces 40 years in prison for first-degree aggravated manslaughter and four other charges.
In February 2017, Patel’s body was found on the side of the road in Shark River Park.
Villani’s then-girlfriend, Rachel Garajau, was found guilty by jury trial in September 2018 on all counts, including first-degree felony murder.
