A North Carolina man was sentenced to 25 years in prison Tuesday for fatally stabbing a 52-year-old man at the Stony Brook Yacht Club last year, Suffolk County prosecutors said.
Victor Panebianco, 33, of King, North Carolina, was sentenced after pleading guilty in August to first-degree manslaughter in the killing of Christopher Millwater.
Suffolk County police received a 911 call at about 3:42 a.m. Nov. 10, 2025, reporting an unconscious man in the yacht club parking lot. Officers and EMS found Millwater with two stab wounds to his chest. He was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Prosecutors said an investigation using witness interviews and video and audio surveillance showed that Millwater had pulled into the parking lot shortly before the killing.
Panebianco and co-defendant Kacy Corso had also arrived in the lot and were sitting in Corso’s vehicle, prosecutors said. Panebianco got out of the passenger side and approached Millwater.
Millwater attempted to drive toward the exit, but prosecutors said Corso crashed into his vehicle and prevented him from leaving. Millwater then got out and tried to run from the area.
Surveillance footage showed Panebianco chasing Millwater while swinging a knife before catching him, prosecutors said. Panebianco continued struggling with Millwater and threatened to kill him while Corso yelled at the victim.
Prosecutors said Millwater was later seen lying motionless on the ground as Panebianco kicked him in the head.
Panebianco and Corso then fled the scene and New York, prosecutors said. Cellphone records showed they had arrived on Long Island from out of state less than 90 minutes before the killing.
Panebianco was arrested in North Carolina on Nov. 19 with assistance from the Stokes County Sheriff’s Office. Corso returned to Suffolk County and was arrested by Suffolk County police.
Panebianco pleaded guilty Aug. 11 to first-degree manslaughter, a felony. He was sentenced Sept. 22 to 25 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision.
“The killing of Christopher Millwater at the hands of the defendant was brutal,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said. “We are grateful that the court imposed the maximum sentence requested by my office.”
Corso pleaded guilty July 22 to first-degree manslaughter for her role in the killing. She is expected to be sentenced Sept. 23 to seven years in prison.
Photo: SCDA
Find Crime News in Your Town
Explore arrests, investigations and crime reports from communities across Long Island.
