LI Man Accused Of Hiding Corpse In Suitcase Charged With Manslaughter: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — The Huntington Station man previously indicted in connection with hiding a woman's corpse has now been charged with manslaughter in the case of her death, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said Wednesday.

Ronald Schroeder, 41, was arrested in September and charged with concealment of a human corpse, the DA said. Schroeder now faces additional charges of second-degree manslaughter and first-degree criminal sexual act after he was accused of engaging in forcible sexual acts with Seikeya Jones, 33, of Huntington Station, while she was unconscious, Tierney said. Schroeder ultimately fell asleep on top of Jones, resulting in her death, the DA said.

"Ms. Jones should be alive today," Tierney said in a news release. "She had a future, a family who loved her, and every right to live free from the alleged brutal assault she suffered at the hands of this defendant on the last day of her life. We will fight for her, for her voice, and for the justice she deserves."

On Sept. 2, 2024, Suffolk County Police responded to a call for suspicious activity and a foul odor outside of an apartment building on Nassau Road in Huntington Station, authorities said. Police found a suitcase which contained the partially decomposed remains of Jones, officials said. Her wrists and ankles were bound with a cord, prosecutors said.

Jones was last seen alive five days earlier on Aug. 29, 2024, inside the apartment building with Schroeder, who also rented an apartment there, investigators said.

On Sept. 6, 2024, law enforcement found and arrested Schroeder at Penn Station when he went to the Long Island Rail Road’s Lost & Found Office to claim his backpack, which he had previously left on a LIRR train, officials said. Schroeder’s backpack was found to contain quantities of both methamphetamine and GHB, or "liquid ecstasy," authorities said.

Schroeder was also found with several cellphones on his person, the DA said.

A search warrant was executed on Schroeder’s phone, and law enforcement said they obtained a video created by Schroeder on Aug. 29, 2024, which depicts him sexually assaulting Jones while she was unconscious and then falling asleep on top of her, causing her death.

After conducting an autopsy, the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office concluded that Jones's cause of death was asphyxia because of torso compression and smothering, prosecutors said.

On Sept. 18, 2024, Schroeder was arraigned on charges of one count of concealment of a human corpse; one count of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; one count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; and one count of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, the DA said.

On Wednesday, Schroeder was arraigned on a superseding indictment on charges of two counts of first-degree criminal sexual act; and one count of second-degree manslaughter, the DA said.

Schroeder was ordered remanded without bail while his case pends.

Schroeder is due back in court on June 20 and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the top count. He is being represented by Christopher Gioe.