New City, NY — A Rockland County man will spend 17 years in state prison after admitting to fatally shooting another man and setting a car on fire with the victim inside in an attempt to destroy evidence. The sentencing, handed down in Rockland County Court, closes a case that investigators pursued for more than three years.
Robert Rodriguez, 38, of Stony Point, received the sentence for first-degree manslaughter, along with five years of post-release supervision, according to Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II. Rodriguez had previously pleaded guilty in November 2025.
Killing followed by attempt to destroy evidence
The case stems from a February 15, 2021 shooting in the area of 417 Call Hollow Road in Stony Point, where authorities say Rodriguez killed Ronald Mann.
After the shooting, prosecutors say Rodriguez transported the victim’s body to a ramp off Exit 16 on the Palisades Interstate Parkway, where he set the victim’s vehicle on fire—with Mann inside—in an effort to conceal the crime.
The burning vehicle was discovered by passersby in the early morning hours of February 16, 2021, prompting a large-scale investigation.
Multi-agency investigation leads to conviction
The case involved coordination across numerous agencies, including the New York State Police, Rockland County Sheriff’s Office, multiple local police departments, and agencies in New Jersey, reflecting the complexity of the investigation.
District Attorney Walsh credited that collaboration for securing the conviction.
“For three years, investigators pursued every lead with determination and precision, and today, that persistence has delivered accountability,” Walsh said.
—
Key Points
• Robert Rodriguez sentenced to 17 years for first-degree manslaughter
• Victim Ronald Mann was shot, then burned in a vehicle to conceal evidence
• Investigation spanned multiple agencies across New York and New Jersey
—
Case underscores length and complexity of investigation
Prosecutors emphasized the time it took to build the case, noting that the investigation stretched over several years before Rodriguez ultimately pleaded guilty.
Authorities described the actions as deliberate, citing both the killing and the subsequent attempt to destroy evidence as key factors in the case.
Current status
Rodriguez has been remanded to state custody to serve his sentence. With sentencing complete, the case is now closed in Rockland County Court.