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NYC Party Ends in Brutal Murder, Netflix Docuseries
28 Mar
Summary
- Joey Comunale was murdered after an after-party in NYC in November 2016.
- Three men were arrested and charged in connection with Comunale's death.
- His murder is featured in Netflix's Homicide: New York series.
In November 2016, Joey Comunale, a 26-year-old from Connecticut, met a tragic end in New York City following an after-party. Comunale had been clubbing in the Meatpacking District before heading to James Rackover's apartment on the Upper East Side.
As the night progressed, an altercation occurred in Rackover's apartment involving Comunale, Larry Dilione, and Rackover. Max Gemma claimed to have been asleep during the incident. Comunale was beaten and stabbed, and his body was later discovered in a shallow grave in New Jersey.
Surveillance footage and subsequent confessions led to the arrests of James Rackover, Larry Dilione, and Max Gemma. Rackover was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 28 years to life. Dilione pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and received a 23-year sentence.
Gemma was sentenced to six months for hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence. Comunale's murder is now featured in the second season of Netflix's Homicide: New York, which was released on March 25, 2026.
