Tinton Falls Woman Gets 33 years for murder of pot dealer

Raquel Garajau

Raquel Garajau, the 21 year old Brookdale student from Tinton Falls convicted last September for the 2017 murder of Trupal Patel, 29 of Brick, was sentenced to 33 years in state prison today by Judge Joseph W. Oxley.

Garajau maintained her innocence in her remarks to Judge Oxley, according to coverage by the coverage by the Asbury Park Press.

Acording to a statement from Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni, the sentence carries a minimum of 30 years before Garajau is eligible for release. Once released, Garajau will be under parole supervision for five years.

Garajau, was found guilty, following a jury trial in September of the crimes of first degree Felony Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, Armed Robbery, Conspiracy to Commit Theft of Marijuana, Theft of Marijuana, Conspiracy to Commit Theft of Cash, Theft of Cash, Conspiracy to Possess a Weapon For an Unlawful Purpose, Possession of a Weapon For an Unlawful Purpose, Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana, Tampering with Physical Evidence, Hindering the Apprehension of Oneself, Hindering the Apprehension of Another (Villani) and Tampering with a Witness, pertaining to the February 2017 murder of 29-year old Patel of Brick.

During her sentencing today, Judge Oxley highlighted Garajau’s lack of remorse for her role in the killing.

The trial ran for almost 2 months, beginning on July 17, 2018 and had 35 total witnesses, including lay people, law enforcement officials and six experts. Extensive evidence was discovered on the cell phones of both Raquel Garajau and Joseph Villani that included numerous text messages they exchanged, including messages from Garajau to Villani that stated “You need to clean the bullets,” “Take your time bleaching everything. The whole entire door and inside,” “Take that bag of stuff out cause I touched his phone.. We will throw that stuff in the ocean,” and

“Babe you need to move that car it’s too important. Like ASAP. People will start noticing he’s not answering.” The evidence at the trial also revealed that while Villani was dumping Patel’s body, Garajau told him to “Facetime me please when you are done” and told him “I love you.”

The charges were a result of a joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean Township, Wall Township, and Asbury Park police departments after Patel was found dead in Shark River Park on Feb. 22, 2017. A Monmouth County Park Ranger who was collecting litter in the area discovered the body along the side of Gully Road and down a slight slope. The Park Ranger reported the discovery at approximately 8:37 a.m., when officers from the Wall Township Police Department were dispatched to the area and confirmed the presence of a deceased male.

Within a short period of time, the deceased man was identified as Patel and it was discovered that he had been reported missing to the Asbury Park Police Department by a friend on February 9, 2017. A black 2003 Jaguar that Patel was driving prior to his disappearance was discovered abandoned on an Asbury Park street on that same day.

Ultimately, detectives involved in the investigation determined the incident had occurred at Garajau’s boyfriend, Joseph Villani’s Ocean Township residence in the afternoon of February 6, 2017. Villani was arrested for murder on February 25, 2017. Additional investigation conducted by detectives revealed evidence that Garajau conspired with Villani to commit these crimes and aided him in destroying and concealing evidence in connection with the murder and robbery of Patel.

Villani pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated manslaughter, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, disturbing human remains and witness tampering, on January 4, 2019. In pleading guilty, Villani implicated Garajau in planning the robbery that led to Patel’s death and aiding Villani in hiding evidence afterwards. Villani is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Oxley on March 21, 2019, where he faces up to 40 years in prison. Villani remains in custody at the Middlesex County Correctional Institution.

The case was prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Melanie Falco and Stephanie Dugan.

Garajau is represented by Robert Honeker, Esq. and Tara Walsh, Esq., of Ocean Township.

Villani is represented by Edward R. Bertuccio, Esq., of Eatontown.