Montauk Man Sentenced After Murdering Ex's New Lover With Axe Handle

MONTAUK, NY — A Montauk man was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to murdering his ex-girlfriend's new lover in 2019, prosecutors said.

Joseph Grippo, 50, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder after he bludgeoned Robert Casado, 38, to death with a pickaxe handle, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Grippo, who pleaded guilty in July, was also sentenced to five years post-release supervision, prosecutors said.

According to court documents and Grippo's admission, on June 6, 2019, just after 7 a.m., he bludgeoned Casado, 38, with the axe handle. Casado, a seasonal worker, was on his way to his job when he was ambushed by Grippo on Kirk Park Trail in Montauk, prosecutors said.

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

The murder weapon was never found, but Grippo admitted during his plea that he bought a 36-inch axe a couple weeks earlier with the purpose of using it on Casado, Tierney said.

Grippo also said that he had been driven to the location by a witness, who told investigators
that he'd dropped off Grippo near the spot where Casado was murdered, Tierney said. The witness had no knowledge of Grippo’s plan to murder Casado, Tierney said. When the witness picked up Grippo, he saw blood on Grippo's hands and a “wooden object,” also stained in blood, in his possession, Tierney said.

Grippo admitted that he had gotten rid of the weapon after the murder at a recycling center in Montauk, Tierney said.

“No amount of incarceration will bring the victim back to his loved ones, but with this lengthy sentence, justice has been served and this defendant will no longer be able to harm others,” Tierney said.

The case was heard before the Honorable Stephen Braslow.

Grippo was represented by Daniel Russo and Keith O’Halloran.

"Joseph Grippo has admitted responsibility for his actions and accepts the negotiated sentence as an appropriate resolution," O'Halloran said.

Added Russo: "Mr. Grippo pleaded guilty and accepted responsibility for his crime. Based on the evidence it was a fair disposition."