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Suspects Arraigned in Murder Case of Hofstra Grad Joey Comunale

What to Know

  • Hofstra grad Joey Comunale was stabbed to death after some sort of dispute last month at the apartment of James Rackover, authorities said
  • Rackover and Lawrence Dilione will appear before a judge in Manhattan on Tuesday
  • The men could face murder charges at the appearance in addition to crimes they've already been charged with, including hindering prosecution

Two men have been arraigned on charges in connection with the death of a Connecticut man who'd attended a party at a Manhattan luxury apartment building.

James Rackover, of Manhattan, and Lawrence Dilione, of Jersey City, New Jersey, both pleaded not guilty Tuesday to concealment of a human body, hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence.

Rackover owned the East Side apartment where authorities say 26-year-old Joseph Comunale was stabbed 15 times.

Investigators have been working to determine who killed the Stamford, Connecticut man, whose body was found in New Jersey. Murder charges could still be forthcoming.

A third person, 26-year-old Max Gemma, of Oceanport, New Jersey, has been arrested in connection with the case. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence.

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