Kwiatkowski

MIDDLETOWN – Robert Kwiatkowski, murdered as he walked home from work in the City of Middletown on Wednesday night, April 30, was laid to rest Friday.

As family and friends said their goodbyes to the 59-year-old father of two teenagers, the city is poised to approve up to $25,000 as a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those who stabbed him to death.

Alderman John VanderVoort knew Kwiatkowski well and came up with the idea for the reward.

 “This guy was a life-long friend of mine and I know his circumstances and his family and the way he was brutally murdered, I felt I had to do something,” he said.

Common Council Finance Committee Chairman Miguel Rodrigues told MidHudsonNews.com that under state law, the city can appropriate up to $25,000 toward a reward such as this.

Police Chief Matthew Byrne said the investigation into who killed Kwiatkowski is continuing.

 “We have followed up on over 100 leads. The detectives have been working double shifts. We have interviewed dozens of people. We’ve been down in New York City several times, in Orange County and in the Middletown area.”

The victim has been characterized as a good family man, a Vietnam veteran and a man who was loved by all.