Heartbreaking New City Murder: Couple Sentenced After Strangling Grandfather for Money!
A New City couple who admitted to killing the man’s 85-year-old grandfather and hiding his body in a crawl space were sentenced in Rockland County Court on Tuesday morning. Both defendants heard harsh remarks from the judge and prosecutor during the hearing.
Constantinos Doonan, 32, remained calm and stoic throughout the session, while his partner, Jo-Ann Haughey, 26, appeared irritated by the proceedings. Just before announcing the sentences, Judge Anne Bianchi described the case as “nothing short of appalling,” a comment that prompted an eye roll from Haughey.
According to the source, Doonan confessed to strangling his grandfather, Constantinos “Gus” Mastakouris, and stuffing plastic down his throat, leading to the man’s death. Haughey admitted to being part of the plot, helping plan the murder, and acting as a lookout while Doonan carried out the killing.
The crime occurred in the couple’s home on Ruth Drive, where Mastakouris had been living with them and their two children. After the murder, the couple wrapped Mastakouris’s body in shower curtains and a deflated child’s pool before hiding it in the crawl space of the home. They then stole Mastakouris’s Mercedes-Benz, jewelry, and credit cards, among other items, to feed their drug addictions.
Prosecutors argued that the true motive behind the murder was greed, not addiction. Rockland Deputy Chief District Attorney Dominic Crispino told the court that the couple lied to family members, claiming that Mastakouris had moved to Greece, gave them the car, and wanted to stay in touch with them. Meanwhile, the body was decomposing just feet from where their children slept.
Six weeks after the murder, the smell of the decaying body eventually drew the attention of relatives, leading to an investigation at the home. The couple had confessed to at least three people, though they continued to lie about the circumstances surrounding Mastakouris’s death.
In his closing statement, Crispino pointed out that the couple had done one “humane” thing throughout the ordeal: pleading guilty and sparing the family the trauma of a trial.
When given the chance to speak in court, both Doonan and Haughey, along with their attorneys, declined to address the judge.
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