SAYREVILLE, NJ—An Old Bridge man was convicted of aggravated manslaughter and a weapons charge on October 14, according to a statement from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO).

Robert McGranahan, age 29, was found guilty of fatally stabbing a 63-year-old man in Sayreville, following a jury trial and more than two days of deliberations.

The victim, Edward Demko, Jr., was found dead in his Sayreville condominium on March 9, 2013, back when Bruce Kaplan was the Middlesex County Prosecutor.  Authorities said he was stabbed 22 times.

McGranahan showed up at Old Bridge Police Department (OBPD) headquarters shortly after authorities had reported to the scene of the crime in Sayreville.  He was then taken to the Sayreville Police Department (SPD), where he was charged with murder and sent to county jail on $1 million bail.

According to testimony in the case, the two men met online before meeting in person at Demko’s Giera Court home where they had a sexual encounter prior to the stabbing.

McGranahan, who previously worked for Sears Home Services, was convicted of aggravated manslaughter and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in the death in the case.

The four-week trial pitted defense attorney Michael Pollicastro against the MCPO’s Scott LaMountain.

Despite the outcome, Pollicastro said the trial was “very fair” and that he respects the verdict, according to reporting by NJ.com’s Alex Napoliello. 

Pollicastro had attempted to claim that his client was acting in self-defense when he killed Demko.

McGranahan now faces between 10 to 30 years in state prison, according to the MCPO.  He will be required to serve 85% of his prison term before becoming eligible for parole.

The MCPO press release, which was obtained by this newspaper despite all of our reporters being removed from the agency’s press list earlier this year, credited SPD Sgt. Thomas Cassidy and MCPO Sgt. Scott Crocco with investigating the crime.

Sentencing is scheduled for February 6, 2017, in the courtroom of Superior Court Judge Dennis Nieves.

Editor at New Brunswick Today | 732-993-9697 | editor@newbrunswicktoday.com | Website

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.