ARRESTS MADE IN SAUGERTIES KILLING
Joseph E. Karolys, son charged with manslaughter in death of David 'Mickey' Myer
KINGSTON, N.Y. >> A Saugerties father and son were arraigned on manslaughter and other felony charges Wednesday in separate proceedings before Ulster County Judge Bryan Rounds in connection with the October 2022 death of David “Mickey” Myer.
Joseph E. Karolys, 38, and his 17-year-old son, who was not identified by authorities due to his age, are each charged with firstdegree manslaughter, firstdegree assault, and tampering with physical evidence, all felonies. The elder Karolys is also charged with one count of attempted bribing of a witness, a felony.
Myer’s body was spotted by passersby who were traveling along Route 32 on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2022 — one day after Myer’s 66th birthday. Myer’s home on People’s Road was less than a mile from its intersection with Route 32.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji said Myer “sustained significant injuries that led to his death.
“This is a physical assault,” Nneji said.
He said that Myer and Karolys knew each another, but declined to elaborate.
Saugerties Police Chief Joseph Sinagra said the investigation into Myer’s death is ongoing and that there is a “possibility that there will be additional, peripheral arrests.” He declined to elaborate, referring further questions about the case to Nneji.
Sinagra said the 17-year-old was arrested at about 5 p.m. Tuesday at 1446 state Route 212, the business address listed for Karolys & Son land clearing and excavation business. Sinagra said the elder Karolys “took off” on Tuesday evening after learning from the 17-year-old that authorities were looking for him, prompting Sinagra to issue a “be on the lookout” alert to surrounding law enforcement agencies.
He said Karolys turned himself in to Saugerties police at about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Karolys appeared during a brief proceeding in Ulster County Court Wednesday afternoon wearing a red, black and gray-checked flannel shirt and jeans, his hands and feet shackled and white paper booties covering his shoes. After his attorney, William Pretsch, entered a not-guilty plea on his client’s behalf, Rounds ordered Karolys to be held at the Ulster County Jail without bail. A bail hearing is expected Friday.
The 17-year-old, who is considered an adolescent offender under the state’s Raise the Age Law, was then brought into the courtroom, which was closed by Rounds, who was sitting as “Youth Part” justice for the proceeding.
As the teenager was led into the courtroom, the elder Karolys, sitting on a
bench in the courthouse lobby, asked a corrections officer if he could go into the courtroom as the youth’s “guardian.” His request was denied.
According to a press release issued by the Saugerties Police, Rounds sent the teen to a youth detention facility on $250,000 cash bail or $1 million bond.
Nneji declined to provide details of the allegations against the pair following the proceedings, saying, “We speak in court.”
He said, however, that Myer, owner of D.M. Myer Foundation and Site Specialist LLC, was known to the duo.
Sinagra declined to provide much detail about the case, including Karolys’ motive in killing Myer.
Kingston attorney Melvin Higgins, who is representing the youth, declined to comment following the proceeding.
If convicted of manslaughter, the elder Karolys could face a maximum sentence of up to 25 years in state prison. It is unclear what sentence the son would face, or where he would serve that sentence if convicted.