Atlantic County Prosecutor Achieves 1st Degree Murder Plea

Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner has achieved a guilty plea from a 39 year-old Philadelphia man in the bludgeoning death of his younger brother.

The murder occurred in 2019 at Harrah’s Hotel and Casino Atlantic City.

According to Tyner, “John A. Villante pleaded guilty today in an open plea to first-degree Aggravated Manslaughter.”

Villante is scheduled to be sentenced on October 26, 2020 before The Honorable Bernard DeLury, Presiding Judge.

The murder took place on May 28, 2019, at approximately 3:10 p.m., in a room on the 11th floor of the Harrah’s Hotel and Casino.

The victim, is 32 year-old Joseph Villante, of Philadelphia, PA.

The Atlantic City Police responded and notified the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, and a cooperative investigation commenced, according to Tyner.

Tyner also advised that “an autopsy was completed at the time by the Southern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office and the cause of death was ruled to be multiple injuries, including blunt force injuries of the head,” said Tyner.

The manner of death was determined to be homicide.

Source: Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner