Manchester Homicide Victim Suffered From Head Trauma

A 76-year-old Manchester man who was murdered this week suffered head trauma when he succumbed to his injuries, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

An autopsy was scheduled for noon Wednesday to determine the exact cause and manner of Anthony “Tony” Verdicchio's death.

Verdicchio was found in his home Monday in the Pine Acres Manor Mobile Home Park in Manchester, just off Route 37 westbound, Ocean County Prosecutor Spokesman Al Della Fave said.

On Monday, at approximately 5:18 pm, the Manchester Township Police received a 911 call reporting a 76-year-old male unconscious and not breathing.

Upon the arrival of emergency services personnel, it was determined that the manner in which the victim was found was suspicious in nature. The victim was last seen on Sunday at the 9 a.m. Mass at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Cable Avenue in Beachwood.

Law enforcement authorities are interested in speaking with anyone who may have spoken to, or seen Verdicchio between 10 a.m. Sunday morning and 5 p.m. Monday evening. 

A group that Verdicchio met with every day for coffee first noticed he was missing when he didn't show up on Monday. An acquaintance from the group went discovered him on the floor and not responding when he went to check up on him. The unidentified acquaintance found Verdicchio on his floor not responding, and immediately contacted police, Della Fave said.

Verdicchio was pronounced dead at 6:37 p.m. According to Della Fave, the death is being classified as a homicide due to the condition in which the body was found.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Manchester Township Police at 732-657-6111, the confidential tip line at www.manchesterpolicenj.com or the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027.

This investigation is currently being conducted by the Manchester Township Police, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department.