LI man, 24, pleads guilty to fatally shooting, burning victim's body in backyard

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A Long Island man pleaded guilty to shooting and burning a man's body in his backyard in 2020, according to prosecutors.

Peter Pendzinski, 24, of Shirley, pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree and other related charges, for killing 21-year-old Nathanael Rodriguez, of Bay Shore, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on April 12.

The murder happened on Dec. 26, 2020, when Pendzinski, driving a Mercedes Benz, picked up Rodriguez from his house in Bay Shore, according to court documents and Pendzinski’s statements during his plea.

Rodriguez got inside the car and sat in the passenger’s seat. Shortly after, Pendzinski pulled out a revolver and shot Rodriguez five times in the head and neck, killing him, according to court documents.

He then drove from Bay Shore to his home in Shirley with Rodriguez’s body still in the passenger seat.

After Pendzinski arrived home, he took Rodriguez’s body to the backyard and put some leaves over him. He then poured gasoline on the body and set him on fire.

Police received a 911 call about excess smoke coming from an open fire at Pendzinski’s house.

Suffolk County police officers responded and found Pendzinski shoveling leaves onto an open fire.

When officers asked if anyone was inside of the home, Pendzinski lied and said yes.

Officers were trying to get inside the house as  Pendzinski moved Rodriguez’s burning body to the other side of the backyard.

Police noticed what he was doing and arrested him.

During a thorough  investigation, detectives found  the passenger side window of the Mercedes Benz was damaged from the shooting.

Detectives also found a saw, a pair of pliers, and floor mats covered with blood in Pendzinski’s driveway, which contained Rodriguez’s DNA, according to court documents.

They also found a Smith and Wesson handgun and a can of gasoline in a detached 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,”  Tierney said.

Pendzinski pleaded guilty to one count of murder in the second degree, a class a violent felony, and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, class c felonies.

He is due back in court on May 17  and is expected to be sentenced to 18 years to life in prison.