Man Charged In Murder Of Person Found Dead In Montauk Park: Cops

MONTAUK, NY — Police have charged a Montauk man for killing a person found dead in the park recently, authorities said.

On Thursday, following an investigation with East Hampton Town Police, Suffolk County Police homicide detectives arrested Joseph Grippo, 47, of Old Montauk Highway, at 3:47 p.m. and charged him with second degree murder after the death of Robert Casado, 38, of Montauk, police said.

Grippo was held overnight at the East Hampton Town Police Department and is scheduled to be arraigned at East Hampton Town Justice Court on June 21.

Casado was found deceased at Kirk Park east of Second House Road in Montauk on June 6 at 7:30 a.m., police said.

East Hampton Town Police responded to Kirk Park after a person visiting the park reported finding an unconscious man, police said. The man had suffered head injuries and was transported to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Officials from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner will determine the man’s cause of death, which detectives said they believed was criminal in nature.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on the incident to call the homicide squad at 631-852-6392 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.