Suspect Who Fled To North Carolina Charged In Man's Slaying Outside Of Stony Brook Yacht Club: Authorities

RIVERSIDE, NY — A man who was arrested in North Carolina last month was brought back to Long Island and charged in connection with the slaying of Christopher Millwater outside of the Stony Brook Yacht Club, authorities said.

Victor Panebianco, 32, of King, NC, arrived from Stokes County last week, and was charged with second-degree murder on Dec. 3, arrest records show. He has been held without bail at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility, District Attorney Ray Tierney's office said.

On Tuesday, an indictment was unsealed in a Riverside court, and Suffolk prosecutors shared more details of the accusations surrounding Millwater's fatal stabbing.

His girlfriend, Kacy Corso, appeared before a judge last week to answer her indictment charges, which included second-degree murder and hindering the prosecution.

Tierney said the indictment reflects his office's "unwavering commitment to seeking justice for victims of violent crime.

“The allegations contained in the indictment point to a deliberate and coordinated act of violence," he said. "We extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and remain dedicated to ensuring accountability for this tragic and senseless loss of life."

Panebianco pleaded not guilty to the charge, online court records show.

Patch has reached out to his attorney, Jonathan Manley of Hauppauge.

If convicted, he is facing 25 years to life in prison.

On Nov 10, at around 3:42 a.m., Suffolk police received a 911 call from a fisherman reporting an unconscious male on the ground in the parking lot of the Stony Brook Yacht Club, and police and EMS found Millwater with two stab wounds to the chest, prosecutors said.

He was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to prosecutors.

The subsequent police investigation, which included witness interviews, and the review of video
and audio surveillance, revealed the following allegations, prosecutors said, adding that shortly after Panebianco's girlfriend, Corso, drove into the parking lot at the yacht club, Millwater pulled in and parked next to her.

Corso then positioned her car in front of Millwater’s, and Panebianco got out of the passenger side, and approached Millwater’s car, according to prosecutors.

Millwater then drove around Corso’s car, and towards the exit of the parking lot, then Corso drove her car into his vehicle, prosecutors said, adding that after the crash, Millwater got out of his car and ran from the scene.

Panebianco chased after him, swinging an object, and Millwater asked Panebianco, “You’re stabbing me?,” and screamed for help and the police, prosecutors said.

Video then shows Panebianco caught up to Millwater, and while he was on the ground,
he threatened to kill him and yelled at him to stay away from Corso, who can
also be heard yelling at Millwater, according to prosecutors.

As Millwater lay motionless on the ground, Panebianco kicked him in the head, and then got back into Corso’s car, and she drove off, according to prosecutors.

Cellular telephone records were found for Panebianco and Corso’s phones, prosecutors said, adding that those records showed that Panebianco and Corso arrived on Long Island from out of state less than an hour and a half before the murder, and fled the state after killing Millwater, prosecutors said.

On Nov. 19, Panebianco was arrested in North Carolina with the help of the Stokes
County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina, while Corso, who had returned to Suffolk, was
arrested by the police department, according to prosecutors.

Her attorney, Christopher Gioe, denies the allegations against her.

He previously told Patch that she "has vehemently denied any involvement in the stabbing incident and has not admitted to the charges."

"On her behalf, we have entered a plea of not guilty," he said. "We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation into this matter and defending our client zealously."

Millwater's sister previously told Patch that he had been fishing at the location where he was killed for around 30 years.

"He went there for peace, for tranquility," his sister, Corinne Millwater, told Patch on Wednesday. "He did a lot of fishing there. I don't really know what else to say. He was just a wonderful person."

Panebianco’s next court date is Jan. 13, and Corso on Jan. 14.