Former Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority Sergeant Convicted of Bludgeoning a Woman to Death Inside her Town of New Windsor Residence Sentenced to 25 years to Life

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on December 15, 2021, Luis Rondon, 50, of New Windsor, was sentenced by Orange County Court Judge Craig Stephen Brown to twenty-five years to life in state prison in connection with the October 2019, bludgeoning death of a woman inside her South Gate Village apartment, in New Windsor. On October 7, 2021, Rondon was convicted by a jury in Orange County Court of Murder in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree. Rondon was a peace officer and sergeant with the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority at the time of the murder. The sentence of twenty-five years to life is the highest authorized sentence under the law for Murder in the Second Degree.
Rondon was initially apprehended in California in connection with the charges and was remanded to the Orange County Jail without bail following the verdict.
At the trial, prosecutors argued that Rondon had killed the victim, who he knew through their association with the Society for Creative Anachronism, a Medieval Reenactment group by striking her repeatedly on the head with a recently purchased framing hammer, and then flew to California. Prosecutors argued that Rondon’s motive for killing the victim was that she had threatened to tell his wife about their relationship and that he feared losing his wife, his house and his pension from Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the Town of New Windsor Police Department and New York State Police for their investigation and the arrest of the defendant, as well the Orange County Sheriff’s Office who aided in the investigation.
District Attorney Hoovler highly commended Executive Assistant District Attorney Michael Milza and Assistant District Attorney Alexis Gregory who prosecuted the case.
“I am gratified that this defendant received the maximum sentence for this particularly brutal murder that was made even more horrific by the fact that the victim was killed in her own home,” said District Attorney David Hoovler. “It is always disturbing when someone whose job is to promote public safety commits acts of senseless violence. In my opinion this defendant deserved an even higher sentence than the maximum sentence that the law allows. I thank the Town of New Windsor Police Department, the New York State Police and Orange County Sheriff’s Office for their actions on this case.”
This criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.