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James Rackover, 25, the son of a celebrity jeweler, and Lawrence Dilione, 28, of Jersey City were charged with second-degree murder, concealment of a human corpse and tampering with physical evidence, New York City police said.
Dilione was also charged with hindering prosecution, police said.
The 26-year-old Stamford, Conn., resident was last seen entering the posh Grand Sutton building in Manhattan early Sunday morning with several people.
The suspects attempted to burn Comunale's body after stabbing him 15 times and dumping his body, the Daily News said. They may have also thrown his body from the third-floor apartment, police told the Daily News.
The motive may have been that Comunale rejected the advances of one of the men inside the apartment, the Daily News said.
Police found blood on Rackover's clothes, as well as on one of his friends, and inside the apartment.
Comunale’s body was found on Wednesday morning after the friend turned himself in to police.
James Rackover is reportedly the son of Jeffrey Rackover, who has supplied jewels to the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Jennifer Lopez, according to People.com.
Comunale was a 2008 graduate of Westhill High School and a 2012 graduate of Hofstra University. He worked as a sales associate at Tri-Ed Security Solutions in Elmsford.
Many of his heartbroken friends took to Facebook to remember Comunale.
"Joey Comunale was never one to have a bad day, I can't recall one time ever seeing him upset with anything or anyone," said one post. "Always great to be around, carrying an upbeat and positive demeanor. All and all Joey was just someone you always wanted to hang around with. To hear the news of his passing is simply devastating."
Another post said, "It's with a heavy heart we say good-bye to you, Joey Comunale. You were always smiling, eager to make those around do the same. You changed countless lives, your brothers, your family, your friends, in ways that will carry on. The world will mourn a beautiful soul & pray for justice as you rest in peace."
The investigation is ongoing.
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