A Manorville contractor was sentencedTuesday to 50 years to life in the killing of two women working as prostitutes, and prosecutors hinted afterward that he may have been involved in more killings – including the unsolved murders at Gilgo Beach.
John Bittrolff was convicted in July in the killings of 31-year-old Rita Tangredi, whose bludgeoned body was found in East Patchogue in 1993, and 20-year-old Colleen McNamee, whose body was discovered one year later in Shirley.
The prosecution's case was built almost entirely on DNA evidence found on the victim's bodies. Defense attorney Jonathan Manley said it was "proof of intercourse and not of a murder."
Bittrolff chose not to speak in court, but his attorney said he continues to insist that he was not guilty of either murder, and that he plans to appeal.
During the sentencing, Tangredi's son called Bittrolff a "monster," while Judge Richard Ambro said Bittrolff was "evil." Prosecutor Robert Biancavilla said that he suspects Bittrolff has killed others and hinted at a connection with the unsolved Gilgo Beach murders.
"I suspect that there are aspects of the Gilgo investigation that are similar to the manner which Mr. Bittrolff committed these crimes," said Biancavilla.
Bittrolff was married and had two children soon after Rita Tangredi and Colleen McNamee were murdered.