LI Man Faces Murder Charge In Domestic Partner's 2022 Death: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A man was indicted on a second-degree murder charge in connection with killing his domestic partner in Huntington Station in 2022, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said on Wednesday.

Georgios Boultadakis, 25, of East Meadow, was accused of slaying John Melnikoff, Jr. more than two years ago, Tierney said.

"The indictment here charges the tragic and brutal murder of a domestic partner," Tierney said in a news release. "We are committed to ensuring that the victim's voice is heard, standing firm against domestic violence and advocating for the safety of all citizens."

On Aug. 8, 2022, shortly after 6 a.m., Boultadakis, a former employee of the Town of Oyster Bay Parks Department, called 911 to report that he found Melnikoff passed out at the foot of the basement stairs of their Huntington Station home, and that Melnikoff was not moving or breathing, prosecutors said.

The 911 operator who took the call instructed Boultadakis how to perform lifesaving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), authorities said. Boultadakis's statements and actions during
the call created "reasonable belief in the operator" that CPR was being performed, investigators said.

When police arrived at the home, Melnikoff was pronounced dead, officials said.

Based on the initial investigation at the home, the lack of evidence of a struggle, and no obvious signs of foul play, the matter was initially treated as an unattended death investigation, the DA said.

On Aug. 10, 2022, an autopsy determined that Melnikoff suffered fractures to the hyoid bone and left horn of the thyroid cartilage as well as soft tissue hemorrhaging, investigators said.

The findings turned the case into a homicide investigation, with the cause of death determined to be because of neck compression, authorities said. On March 3, after an extensive investigation, Boultadakis was arrested, the DA said.

Boultadakis was arraigned Wednesday.

Boultadakis was ordered remanded while his case pends. Boultadakis is due back in court on April 16 and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count.

He is being represented by William Keahon.

Keahon did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.