Crime & Safety

Man Acccused in Long Branch Murder Indicted in Neighbor's Murder

Alan Bienkowski, 54, of Pine Acres Manor Mobile Home Park, Manchester Township, was indicted on two counts of first degree murder.

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato today announced the return of an indictment by the Ocean County Grand Jury against Alan Bienkowski, 54, of Pine Acres Manor Mobile Home Park, Manchester Township, for two counts of First Degree Murder, First Degree Robbery, Second Degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and Third Degree Theft in connection with the death of Anthony “Tony” Verdicchio, according to a prepared statement from the prosecutor's office.

Monmouth County officials previously charged Bienkowski with the murder of Michael M. Wells, a Point Pleasant man who died of a gunshot wound in the backyard of a Cleveland Avenue home in Long Branch during an alleged robbery on April 10.

Bienkowski is currently being held on $1,450,000 bail in the Monmouth County jail in Freehold on the Long Branch case. His bail in the Manchester case has been set at $3 million dollars cash only, prosecutor’s office spokesman Al Della Fave said.

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The statement from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office says:

"The indictment stems from the May, 2013 homicide investigation which began on Monday, May 13, at approximately 5:18 pm, when Manchester Township Police received a 911 call reporting a 76 year old male unconscious and not breathing. Upon arrival of Emergency Services personnel, it was determined that the manner in which the victim was found was suspicious in nature.

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The victim, Anthony “Tony” Verdicchio, age 76, was found in his home, located in the Pine Acres Manor Mobile Home Park in Manchester Township.  Based on the preliminary investigation, law enforcement authorities believed that Mr. Verdicchio suffered head trauma and succumbed to his injuries. 

This was confirmed when the Medical Examiner’s autopsy, conducted Wednesday (May 15), found the victim’s cause of death to be from multiple blunt force traumas to the head and face.  The manner of death was ruled a Homicide.  

The indictment presents the following:

COUNT ONE: MURDER - First Degree

The Grand Jurors of the State of New Jersey, for the County of Ocean, upon their oaths present that Alan A. Bienkowski, on or about May 12, 2013, in the Township of Manchester, County of Ocean, and within the jurisdiction of this Court, did purposely or knowingly cause the death of Anthony Verdicchio or purposely or knowingly caused serious bodily injury resulting in the death of Anthony Verdicchio, contrary to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3(a), and against the peace of this State, the government and dignity of the same.

COUNT TWO: MURDER - First Degree

The Grand Jurors of the State of  New Jersey, in and for the County of Ocean, upon their oaths present that, ALAN A. BIENKOWSKI, on or about May 12, 2013, in the Township of Manchester, County of Ocean, and within the jurisdiction of this Court, did cause the death of Anthony Verdicchio while he was engaged in the commission of or flight after committing robbery, contrary to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3(a)(3), and against the peace of this State, the government and dignity of the same.

COUNT THREE: ROBBERY – First Degree

The Grand Jurors of the State of New Jersey, for the County of Ocean, upon their oaths present ALAN A. BIENKOWSKI, on or about May 12, 2013, in the Township of Manchester, County of Ocean, and within the jurisdiction of this Court, in the course of committing a theft knowingly did, inflict bodily injury upon, or use force upon, or did put Anthony Verdicchio in fear of immediate bodily injury, while armed with or threatening the immediate use of a deadly weapon, contrary to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1, and against the peace of this State, the Government and dignity of the same.

COUNT FOUR: UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A WEAPON – Second Degree

The Grand Jurors of the State of New Jersey, for the County of Ocean, upon their oaths present ALAN A. BIENKOWSKI, on or about May 12, 2013, in the Township of Manchester County of Ocean, and within the jurisdiction of this Court, knowingly did have in his possession a firearm without first having obtained a permit to carry the same as provided in N.J.S. 2C:58-4, contrary to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(b), and against the peace of this State, the government and dignity of the same.

COUNT FIVE: THEFT - Third Degree

The Grand Jurors of the State of New Jersey, for the County of Ocean, upon their oaths present that The Grand Jurors of the State of New Jersey, for the County of Ocean, upon their oaths present ALAN A. BIENKOWSKI, on or about May 12, 2013, in the Township of Manchester, County of Ocean, and within the jurisdiction of this Court, did unlawfully take or exercise unlawful control over the moveable property of Anthony Verdicchio, that is a firearm, with the purpose to deprive the owner thereof, contrary to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3, and against the peace of this State, the government and dignity of the same.

If convicted of Murder, Bienkowski faces a sentence ranging from the minimum mandatory sentence of 30 years in state prison, with a 30 year period of parole ineligibility, to a potential maximum sentence of life in prison.

Bienkowski is currently being held in the Monmouth County Jail, Freehold, on Murder charges related to a Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office case.  Bail in the Manchester Township, Ocean County case has been set at $3 million cash only, as set by Honorable Francis R. Hodgson, Jr. JSC.

The Manchester Township Police Department, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, and the Toms River Township Police Department all contributed to the investigation culminating in the arrest of Bienkowski.  This case is being prosecuted by Ocean County Senior Assistant Prosecutor Michael R. Weatherstone. 

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law."


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