A Newfield man faces life imprisonment after being convicted of murder and kidnapping charges in Tioga County Court. Joseph Howell, 38, was found guilty on Friday for the abduction and murder of Thomas Rath, an Ithaca resident, in 2023. Howell’s charges include first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, and three counts of witness intimidation.
Authorities reported that Rath was taken from the Ithaca homeless encampment known as “the jungle” in May 2023. His remains were later discovered in a shallow grave in Candor in August. The New York State Police led the months-long investigation that ultimately resulted in the arrest of 13 individuals connected to Rath’s disappearance and death.
Howell, who now faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole, is scheduled for sentencing on January 13, 2025.
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