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Peter Pendzinski, age 24, of Shirley, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Friday, April 12, in the death of 21-year-old Nathanael Rodriguez.
Pendzinski admitted to picking up Rodriguez from his Bay Shore home at around midnight on Dec. 26, 2020. Moments later, he pulled out a revolver and shot Rodriguez five times in the head as the man sat in his passenger seat.
Immediately following the murder, Pendzinski drove to his Shirley residence, where he moved the young man’s body to the backyard. He then covered him in leaves, poured gasoline on him, and set him on fire.
Suffolk County Police officers were called to the home a short time later after a passerby called 911 reporting heavy smoke coming from the property. When they arrived, they found Pendzinski shoveling leaves onto an open fire.
Prosecutors said he initially lied to officers and told them that someone was inside the home in an attempt to distract them. As police were trying to get inside, he moved Rodriguez’ burning body to the other side of the yard. Officers eventually realized what he was doing and arrested him.
A search of the scene turned up a saw, a pair of pliers, and floor mats covered in the victim’s blood. Officers also recovered a Smith and Wesson handgun and a can of gasoline in a garage.
“This defendant brutally murdered Nathanael Rodriguez by shooting him in the head and neck and attempted to cover up his crimes by desecrating the victim’s body by setting it on fire,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney.
“Thanks to the quick thinking of the Suffolk County first responders on scene, the defendant’s plan to cover up his crime was quickly foiled. This defendant’s conduct in the commission of this murder warrants a lengthy prison time, which we will seek at the sentence.”
In court Friday, Pendzinski pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, all felonies.
He is expected to get 18 years in prison when he’s sentenced on Friday, May 17.
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