A New York father was allegedly murdered by his former wife and her husband in what authorities called a “sophisticated” killing that took years to investigate, the Poughkeepsie Journal reports.
On Thursday, federal prosecutors charged 36-year-old Jamie Orsini and her husband, 35-year-old Nicholas Orsini, with conspiracy and carjacking resulting in death in connection with the presumed slaying of 34-year-old Steven Kraft.
The former U.S. Marine vanished on April 28, 2020, after taking his daughters out for dinner and dropping them off at the Orsinis’ house in Beacon, New York, north of New York City along the Hudson River.
Police have not found Kraft’s body, but there is evidence to suggest that the Orsinis dismembered and burned the remains.
Before and after Kraft’s disappearance, the couple allegedly bought an angle grinder with a grinding wheel, an axe, a large paint tarp, a Tyvek suit and boots, duct tape, two 31-gallon steel trash cans, odorless charcoal grates, a flame lighter and 16 bundles of firewood.
The government alleges that Kraft was carjacked after he dropped off his daughters and Nicholas Orsini drove Kraft’s Toyota Camry, walked a mile to a gas station, and called a taxi. Clothing matching what Nicholas Orsini was wearing at the gas station was found in his home during a police search in August 2020.
Prosecutors say the couple conducted a dry run prior to Kraft’s disappearance, using the same route that Nicholas Orsini drove on the day of the attack.
Investigators further alleged that the couple used burner phones to communicate and disposed of those phones, according to the criminal complaint.
If convicted, Jamie and Nicholas Orsini could be sentenced to life in prison or put to death.
Damian Williams, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, noted the lengths the Orsinis went to hide the killing.
“A little over three years ago, Nicholas and Jamie Orsini allegedly plotted to and did kill Jamie’s ex-husband, Steven Kraft,” Williams said in a statement. “Their alleged scheme was sophisticated — it involved burner phones, stealing and dumping Kraft’s car, and, ultimately, disposing of Kraft’s body.
“In doing so, the Orsinis denied Kraft’s family — including Kraft’s children with Jamie — the dignity of having a proper burial. This complaint shows that no matter how well you cover up your heinous act, law enforcement will not relent until they have uncovered your crimes.”
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[Feature Photo: Nicholas Orsini/U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York]
