NEW BRUNSWICK — An Old Bridge man who stabbed a 65-year-old almost two dozens times, killing the Sayreville man he met on a dating website was sentenced Friday to 25 years in prison.
Robert McGranahan, who was indicted on a murder charge, was found guilty by a jury of the lesser charge of aggravated manslaughter last year in the death of Edward Demko Jr.
McGranahan was 26-years-old when he connected with Demko on a dating website in March of 2013. The two met up at Demko’s Sayreville townhouse, where a sexual encounter turned deadly. Demko was found with 22 stab wounds, including two fatal wounds in his back and chest. McGranahan’s lawyer, Michael Policastro, had argued his client acted in self-defense — had a wound above his eye and scratches on his back.
Facing 30 years in prison, McGranahan appeared in Middlesex County Superior Court in a green jumpsuit in front of Judge Dennis Nieves and pleaded for the minimum sentence of 10 years.
“I understand how it looks, but please you have to look at the facts in the case,” McGranahan said as he spoke to the judge for more than 20 minutes before his sentencing. “I am sincerely sorry.”
“You killed somebody, somebody that you had just made love to less than an hour ago,” Nieves responded. “All you had to do was punch him in the face and run.”
Demko’s family read letters to Nieves, each trying to hold back tears, describing their brother, sister and uncle as a “lovely person” who was “always respectful.”
“We will never understand why he did this,” Joseph Demko, the victim’s brother, said. “He’s left a hole in our family. Eddie’s chair will always be empty at holidays.”
McGranahan’s mom, Linda, pleaded with the judge after Demko’s family asked for the maximum sentence. McGranahan sat in the jury box, with his head in his hands, crying, while his mother told stories about him growing up.
Nieves sentenced McGranahan to 25 years for the aggravated manslaughter charge and four years for the weapons charge, which will run concurrently.
Before Nieves could finish reading McGranahan’s rights following sentencing, the cuffed man interrupted from the jury box to say, “I appeal.” McGranahan continued to ask the judge about the process of appeal until his attorney interjected that he would talk to his client.
“I wanted 30 (years), but I’ll take 25,” Joseph Demko said after the sentencing. “You’ve got to accept the judge’s decision.”
“We’ll just never know what happened that night,” he said walking out of the courthouse. “The only town people who knew were him and my brother, and my brother can’t tell us.”
Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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