Man Pleads Guilty To Bludgeoning Ex's New Love With Axe Handle: DA

MONTAUK, NY — A Montauk man pleaded guilty to manslaughter Tuesday after bludgeoning his ex-girlfriend's new love to death in 2019, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Joseph Grippo, 50, pleaded guilty before Justice Stephen Braslow to first-degree manslaughter; he faces 20 years in prison plus five years post-release supervision, Tierney said.

According to court documents and the Grippo's admission, on June 6, 2019, shortly after 7 a.m., Grippo bludgeoned Robert Casado, 38, with a pick axe handle, Tierney said.

Casado was on his way to work, where he was a seasonal worker, when he was ambushed by the Grippo on Kirk Park Trail in Montauk, Tierney said.

Casado knew Grippo, as they both had been romantically involved with the same woman, Tierney said.

The weapon was never recovered; however, Grippo admitted during his plea that he
had purchased the 36-inch pick axe only a couple weeks earlier with the purpose of using it on
Casado, Tierney said.

He also admitted that he was driven to the incident location by a witness who told investigators
that he dropped Grippo off in close proximity to the spot; that witness had no
knowledge of Grippo’s plan to kill Casado, Tierney said.

When Grippo called the witness to pick him up after the murder, the witness observed Grippo had blood on his hands and a “wooden object” also stained in blood in his possession, Tierney said. Grippo also admitted that he'd gotten rid of the weapon at a recycling center in Montauk, Tierney said.

Grippo is due back in court for sentencing on September 7; he was represented by Daniel Russo and Keith O’Halloran. Neither Russo nor O'Halloran could immediately be reached for comment.

"This defendant chose to hurt another human being because he was scorned, and ended up killing him," Tierney said. "While his admission of guilt and incarceration provide a form of justice for the victim’s loved ones and family, it won’t bring him back. This sentence ensures this defendant won’t cause any more harm to others for a very long time.”