NJ man indicted in killing of 9/11 firefighter with golf club

A Monmouth County man has been indicted on charges that he beat and slashed to death a retired New York City firefighter in 2015.

Conrad Sipa, 52, of Colts Neck, could face 30 years to life in prison if found guilty of killing Richard Doody Jr., who had been a 9/11 responder at Ground Zero in Manhattan.

The indictment was handed up by a grand jury almost two years after Sipa's arrest. He has remained free on bail since 2015.

Prosecutors in Ocean County say Sipa used a knife, golf club, and a ceramic lamp to kill Doody, whose body was found with blunt force trauma to the head and slash wounds in his neck.

Prosecutors also said Sipa tried to cover up his evil deed by cleaning up the crime scene.

Authorities believe Sipa killed Doody sometime between Nov. 21 and 23. Doody's body was found Nov. 24 after a relative called police for a wellness check.

After his arrest in 2015, Sipa was released after posting $1 million bail under the state's former bail system, prosecutors said. Sipa and his wife, who had lived in Manhattan, bought their $611,000 home in Colts Neck in 2012, records show.

A new bail system was implemented in January to allow judges to keep potentially dangerous defendants locked up until trial, regardless of their ability to afford bail.

Authorities said the two knew each other but have not said what the motive was behind the slaying. The New York Post reported that the murder may have been motivated by a rivalry over a woman lover.

Sipa will face trial on a county of first-degree murder, three counts of third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, third-degree hindering apprehension and fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence.

Sergio Bichao is deputy digital editor at New Jersey 101.5. Send him news tips: Call 609-438-1015 or email sergio.bichao@townsquaremedia.com.