In a tragic turn of events that stunned the community of Fishkill, New York, 33-year-old Manuel 'Tony' Morey, his wife Tina, 30, and their three young sons, Manuel Jr., 13, Adam, 10, and Ryan, 6, were brutally murdered in their home on January 19, 2007. The family's house on Route 82 was intentionally set on fire in an attempt to conceal the horrific crime.
Firefighters responding to the blaze discovered the five bodies inside, leading to a massive investigation by the New York State Police.
Autopsies later revealed the gruesome details of their deaths. Manuel Morey had been shot once in the neck, while his wife, Tina, suffered gunshot wounds to her chest and head. Their two older sons, Manuel Jr. and Adam, died from multiple stab wounds, and the youngest, Ryan, succumbed to blunt force trauma to his head. Investigators determined that the entire family had been killed before the fire was started. The brutality of the crime sent shockwaves through the Hudson Valley.
The investigation quickly zeroed in on two local men, 29-year-old Mark S. Serrano of Fishkill and 31-year-old Charles W. Gilleo Jr. of Hopewell Junction. Authorities revealed that Manuel Morey had a history of low-level crack cocaine dealing and that Serrano and Gilleo were his partners in this small-scale drug operation. It was a dispute related to their drug dealings that is believed to have been the motive for the murders. One of the suspects, Gilleo, had even attended the same high school as Manuel Morey.
Both Serrano and Gilleo were arrested and initially charged with one count of second-degree murder in the death of Manuel Morey. A grand jury later returned indictments for the murders of the entire family. The ensuing legal proceedings revealed that the murders occurred during the course of a robbery at the Morey home. Ultimately, both Mark S. Serrano and Charles W. Gilleo Jr. were found guilty of all charges. They were sentenced to life in prison for their roles in the quintuple homicide. Serrano will not be eligible for parole until 2057.
