MONMOUTH COUNTY – Raquel Garajau, 21, of Tinton Falls, has been sentenced to 33 years in prison for the 2017 shooting death of Brick resident Trupal Patel.
She was found guilty back in September of first-degree felony murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit theft of marijuana, theft of marijuana, conspiracy to commit theft of cash, theft of cash, conspiracy to possess a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, tampering with physical evidence, hindering the apprehension of oneself, hindering the apprehension of another and tampering with a witness.
Her boyfriend, Joseph Villani, pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated manslaughter and four other charges earlier this month.
Patel was shot in Villani’s Ocean Township garage last February, his body dumped at Shark River Park in Wall. Villani was arrested later that month. Reports said Patel was a known marijuana dealer.
Garajau was arrested in May 2017 and rejected a plea deal.
