New City couple sentenced in murder of man's 85-year-old grandfather
Prosecutors said that after the murder, Doonan and Haughey wrapped Mastakouris's body in shower curtains and a deflated child's pool before hiding the body in the home's crawl space.
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A New City couple who pleaded guilty to killing the man's 85-year-old grandfather and hiding his body in a crawl space were sentenced in Rockland County Court Tuesday morning, and had to hear some harsh remarks from the judge and prosecutor.
Constantinos Doonan, 32, remained stoic during the hearing, while his partner Jo-Ann Haughey, 26, appeared annoyed.
"This case is nothing short of appalling," County Court Judge Anne Bianchi said just before issuing sentences, prompting an eyeroll from Haughey.
Doonan admitted to strangling his grandfather, Constantinos "Gus" Mastakouris, 85, and stuffing plastic down his throat, which killed him.
Haughey admitted to helping plan the murder and served as a lookout as Doonan strangled his grandfather.
Prosecutors say the crime happened at a home on Ruth Drive, where Mastakouris, the couple and the couple's two children lived.
Doonan was sentenced to 20 years to life for murder.
Haughey received a 15-year sentence followed by five years of supervised release.
Rockland Deputy Chief District Attorney Dominic Crispino ran through a disturbing sequence of events involving the couple.
Crispino said that after the murder, Doonan and Haughey wrapped Mastakouris's body in shower curtains and a deflated child's pool before hiding the body in the home's crawl space.
Crispino then described the couple's actions after the murder.
Doonan and Haughey admitted to stealing Mastakouris's Mercedes-Benz, jewelry, and credit card, among other items.
The couple told the court they carried out the crime to help feed their drug addictions.
Judge Bianchi believed the motive to be greed.
"You wanted your grandmother's jewelry. You wanted their home," she said to the couple. "You wanted his life."
Crispino said Doonan and Haughey told relatives that Mastakouris moved to Greece, that Mastakouris gave the couple the Mercedes and that Mastakouris only wanted to communicate with the couple.
The couple immediately pawned the jewelry and began using the credit card as Doonan's grandfather's body was decomposing in the crawl space, "just feet from where their children slept every night," Crispino said.
Six weeks after the murder, the body's stench eventually caught the attention of family members, Crispino said, which kicked off an investigation at the home.
Crispino said the couple confessed to at least three people, all while keeping up several lies to their relatives.
"Gus gave them permission to take his car? — Never happened," Crispino said, listing lies told by the couple. "Gus bought himself a new car? — Never happened. Gus went to Greece? Never happened. Why? Gus was stuffed in the crawl space."
In closing, Crispino mentioned one "humane" action by the couple.
"The only humane thing that these two have done is plead guilty in this case," he said, "and spared the family a trial."
When given the chance to address the court, the couple and their attorneys declined to speak.
