Laurence Harbor Man Killed Man While Working As Verizon Door-to-Door Salesman

LAURENCE HARBOR, NJ — A Laurence Harbor man who worked as a door-to-door salesman was found guilty last week of stabbing a man to death in Ocean County.

Michael Tsamas, 35, was found guilty of aggravated manslaughter in the death of Joseph Delgardio, 44, of Jackson Township, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced in this press release on March 26.

On May 26, 2022, Tsamas was working for a third-party company hired by Verizon to solicit customers on a door-to-door basis.

On that date, Tsamas knocked on the door of Delgardio’s home in Jackson Township, in an attempt to solicit his business. Delgardio told Tsamas he was not interested, and Tsamas left the property.

A short time later, Delgardio confronted Tsamas on the street and a physical altercation ensued, said the prosecutor.

During the altercation, Tsamas removed a dagger from his pocket and stabbed Delgardio in the neck, killing him. Jackson Township Police responded to the area of West Veterans Highway and Conor Road at 6:15 p.m. that evening for a 911 call that a man was lying in the roadway in a pool of blood, and responding officers found Delgardio with a severe wound to his neck.

CPR and first aid from local firefighters was unsuccessful, and Delgardio was pronounced dead at the scene. Tsamas was taken into custody without incident at the scene.

The trial against Tsamas lasted two weeks. He will be sentenced on May 30, at which time he faces up to 30 years New Jersey state prison.