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A New York man has been charged in connection with the disappearance and presumed death of a longtime friend who disappeared a day after they were known to have run into each other in December, multiple outlets report.
On Monday,Angelo Nesimi, 33, of Staten Island,wasindicted and accused of fatally stabbingMichael Stewart, 40, anddisposing of his body, outlets includingThe New York Times, theStaten Island Advanceand local radio station WCBS 880 report.
Nesimi was charged with second-degree murder, first- and second-degree manslaughter, tampering with evidence and concealment of a corpse, theStaten Island Advancereports.
They both pleaded not guilty at their arraignment Monday, WCBS reports.
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Stewart, an out-of-work construction worker and father-of-two from Staten Island, disappeared in the early hours of Dec. 21, a day after he ran into Nesimi in a barbershop — an impromptu meeting that was caught on security camera footage, theTimesreports.
While Stewart’s family launched a desperate search for him, prosecutors believe he was already dead.
“The defendant used a dangerous knife to stab the victim to his death inside the residence of where the defendant lived,” Assistant District Attorney Andrew Botelho said, theAdvancereports.
After allegedly stabbing Stewart, prosecutors say Nesimi asked Formica to help him dispose of all evidence in his apartment, including removing a refrigerator, sinks, molding, flooring, sheets, and towels, WCBS reports.
They allegedly disposed of the items at a construction site Formica owns, theAdvancereports.
Nesimi’s girlfriend told police that Nesimi had allegedly killed a man when he was arrested Dec. 30 on a weapons charge after allegedly assaulting her, theNew York Daily Newsand theTimesreport.
Nesimi’s lawyer, Mario Gallucci, told theTimes, “These are just the musings of a jilted lover,” and added, “They’re basing their whole case on statements of a girlfriend that he had broken up with.”
While police are still searching for a motive, Stewart’s family is mourning his loss.
“He was a good father, a good person,” Stephanie Garcia, who is the mother of Stewart’s daughter, told theTimes.
Calls to Nesimi’s lawyer and to the district attorney’s office were not immediately returned. It was not immediately clear if Nesimi has entered pleas to any of the charges he faces.
Formica’s lawyer tells PEOPLE he has no comment.
source: people.com
