Coram man charged with murder in death of missing uncle, 71
Jonathan Roman, 42, of Coram, was arrested by Nassau County Police on Friday, March 7, 2014, in connection with the death of his uncle, John Frankowski, 71, of New Hyde Park, police said. Credit: NCPD
Nassau County police have charged a Coram man with murder in the death of his 71-year-old uncle, who had been reported missing for eight days.
Jonathan Roman, 42, was arrested Friday afternoon after Nassau homicide detectives, aided by a Suffolk K-9 unit, found the victim's body buried in a wooded area behind Roman's home, police said.
John Frankowski of New Hyde Park was last seen alive on Feb. 27, according to his son, John Frankowski Jr.
Police said Roman had an argument with his uncle that "escalated, causing the death of the victim." Roman was charged with second-degree murder and is scheduled to be arraigned Saturday morning at First District Court in Hempstead.
The cause of death was not released.
For the past two days, Nassau and Suffolk police maintained a presence at Roman's Grove Avenue home.
Officers could be seen Friday entering the house, which was sealed with yellow crime scene tape. At least two police cars were parked in front.
Neighbors said police had been at the house since Thursday morning.
"The only thing I saw was just the cops sitting there and everything was blocked off," said Diana DiPisa, 32. "There was a pizza delivery guy, they wouldn't let him down there."
A Nassau police helicopter was seen circling over the house shortly before 3 p.m., about the time authorities later said the body was discovered.
Earlier in the day, Frankowski Jr., who lives in central Florida, said he was told by police that detectives were questioning some of his relatives in his father's disappearance.
He said he talks to his father every day and when he lost contact with him after Feb. 27, "that was an immediate red flag."
