KINGSTON, NY—Joseph Karolys, age 39, of Saugerties, was sentenced to 25 years in State Prison, plus five years of post-release supervision, to run concurrently on his convictions of Manslaughter in the First Degree and Assault in the First Degree. He was also sentenced to additional 1 1/3 to 4 years for his conviction of Tampering with Physical Evidence; he must serve this sentence in addition to the 25 years. The convictions followed a two-week jury trial in Ulster County Court before the Honorable Bryan Rounds that concluded on June 14, 2024.
On October 29, 2022, Joseph Karolys, David “Mickey” Myer, and Michael Cummins were driven home by Joseph Karolys, Jr., following a Halloween party at a Greene County Bar. David “Mickey” Myer’s beaten body was found that morning on the side of Route 32 in Saugerties. The ensuing investigation conducted by the Saugerties Police Department with assistance from the New York State Police determined that the manner of death was homicide.
The proof at trial established that Mickey Myer was brutally assaulted inside the truck and that Karolys kicked Mickey Myer in the head after he was removed from the vehicle and left him in extremis. Thereafter he and his son took steps to conceal the crime, including burning the steel-toe boots Karolys used in the crime in their wood stove.
Karolys then took Cummins out of town with him and spent several days moving around the Lake George area as he worked on Cummins to take the rap for him, ultimately causing Cummins to bring himself into Saugerties Police Department to cover for Karolys. At the request of Karoly’s attorney and the DA the jury heard and saw all the video and audio recorded statements of Michael Cummins. In his cooperation with the prosecution Cummins revealed additional damaging information previously unknown in the case, including Karolys’ statement that Mickey bit him in his hand during the assault and the bite became infected, but he would tell the emergency room that it was a dog bite.
The joint investigation by New York State Police and Saugerties Police revealed Mickey Myer’s blood inside the Karolys truck and home, as well as on the truck’s floor mats which had been removed from the truck and placed elsewhere in the compound.
Victim impact statements were submitted by multiple family members and friends of Mickey Myer. His sister, Donna Harris, spoke about her last conversation with Mickey in which she wished him a happy birthday and closed with exchanges of “I love you.” Ulster County Crime Victims Assistance Program Director Jessica Jones delivered a victim impact statement on behalf of Mickey’s brother, Danny Myer, describing how the pain of the loss will never go away.
Interim Chief of the Saugerties Police Department K.J. Swart said, “There’s no act that could ever heal the wound created when a loved one is stripped away. It is our hope that the verdict, combined with the recent sentencing, helps provide some closure for the family and friends of Mickey Myer. The outcome of the investigation demonstrates how well law enforcement officers and prosecutors work hand-in-hand to hold those who commit heinous acts accountable.”
District Attorney Emmanuel C. Nneji commented, “This sentence reflects Joseph Karolys’ selfishness and lack of decency towards others – such disregard as in his polluting the water supply sources for many families, and stripping Mickey of his life and human dignity by leaving him on the side of the road to die. The impact of this crime in Saugerties is far-reaching; I am hopeful that Mickey’s family and friends in Saugerties will cherish and make a legacy of their memories of him.”
The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Emmanuel C. Nneji and Assistant District Attorney Kristen Druse; Joseph Karolys was represented by Kingston defense attorneys Carol Morgan and William Pretsch.
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