Nassau homicide detectives arrested former Westbury resident Michael Kellington on April 26 and charged him with the murder of Richard Montavani. It is alleged that Kellington fatally stabbed Montavani, 31, in his Westbury home, Oct. 15, 1998.

Mantovani's body was discovered Oct. 15, 1998, lying in a pool of blood in the basement of his Merillon Ave. home. A friend became concerned by the sight of newspapers and mail accumulating outside the house, and notified the police. According to neighbors, Mantovani was sociable and well-liked. He had been employed by the Town of Hempstead as a sanitation worker since the spring of 1990. He was also an amateur boxer who won the Golden Gloves 125-pound open title at Madison Square Garden in 1995.

Kellington was arrested while serving a sentence in the South Florida Correctional Facility for violating probation from a vehicular manslaughter conviction. His arraignment in First District Court in Hempstead was postponed until May 4. He is being held without bail and faces 25 years to life if convicted.