Monticello, NY - On September 19, 2025, Sullivan County District Attorney Brian P. Conaty announced that a Sullivan County Jury found Jonte Wunner, 27, of Monticello, guilty of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A-I felony, Concealment of a Human Corpse, a Class E Felony, and Tampering with Physical Evidence, a Class E felony, following a five day jury trial. The jury found that on October 4, 2024, Wunner intentionally beat and shot Jose Rodriguez, 42, to death at 20 Lakewood Avenue in the Village of Monticello. The jury further found that Wunner wrapped Rodriguez’ corpse in a tarp and transported it to the Woodridge rail trail where he dumped the body. The evidence presented throughout the trial included witness testimony, cellular cell site analysis, video evidence, and DNA evidence linking the defendant to the crime scene as well as the location where the decedent’s body was located. Wunner’s arrest followed a twenty-five day investigation by the New York State Police after locating Rodriguez’ body on the Woodridge rail trail.
Wunner, who has three prior felony convictions and four misdemeanor convictions, including a Murder in the Second Degree conviction from May 8, 2025 out of Albany County Court, for which he was sentenced to thirty years to life in state prison, faces an additional thirty-three years to life in state prison which can run consecutively to his prior Albany sentence. Wunner is scheduled to be sentenced on November 24th, 2025. This case was prosecuted at trial by Chief Assistant District Attorney Michael J. Puma while Wunner was represented by Mathew Witherow, Esq. Sullivan County Court Judge James R. Farrell presided over the trial.
Conaty said: “Today’s verdict delivers justice for Jose Rodriguez and his loved ones. This was a deliberate, callous, and cold-blooded execution that stole a life from our community. The defendant thought he could evade responsibility, but today the People of Sullivan County made it clear: violence will not be tolerated and murders will face the full weight of the law. This conviction underscores this Office’s unwavering commitment that if you pick up a weapon and choose to take a life, you will spend your own life behind bars. This Office will never back down in the fight to protect the people of this County. I commend the jury for their careful consideration of the evidence. I also wish to thank the New York State Police investigators for their swift and thorough investigation to identify and apprehend Wunner for this heinous and unnecessary violent crime. I also commend the victim’s family for their strength and courage throughout the judicial process and I applaud Chief Assistant District Attorney Michael Puma who worked tirelessly to hold the defendant accountable for his actions.”
