In what began as a missing person case, the story of Ian Sal Gratto Saalfield, a 45-year-old male, came to a tragic end in Selden, New York. His wife reported him missing on April 26, 2022, after he was last seen the previous day leaving his Lake Grove home with a childhood friend, Brian Cordovano. The two departed in Saalfield's white 2015 Lexus. The vehicle was discovered abandoned in a Holtsville parking lot on May 2, 2022, escalating the concern for his welfare.
The search culminated
on May 3, 2022, when police, following leads in the missing person investigation, arrived at a residence on Hollywood Avenue in Selden. Inside the home, they discovered the bodies of Saalfield and the homeowner, 58-year-old Robert Julian. Both men had been fatally shot in the head. Investigators quickly ruled out a murder-suicide and began pursuing leads, suggesting the incident might be connected to the drug trade.
The investigation led to the arrest of Brian Cordovano, then 48 years old. He was apprehended during a traffic stop in Smithtown and subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder. The relationship between the two victims and the suspect was initially unclear, though it was noted they were acquainted. Neighbors of the victims expressed shock and described Saalfield as a friendly and polite individual.
In a resolution that brought a measure of closure to the victims' families, Brian Cordovano pleaded guilty in October 2024 to two counts of first-degree manslaughter, along with other related charges including robbery and criminal possession of a weapon. He admitted to killing both Ian Saalfield and Robert Julian on April 25, 2022. As a result of his guilty plea, Cordovano was sentenced to 30 years in prison. The Suffolk District Attorney characterized the murders as a 'selfish and inexplicable act of violence.'
