p oli C e B lotter Door-To-Door Solicitor Indicted For Ocean County Stabbing Death

By Alyssa Riccardi

JACKSON – A Laurence Harbor resident has been indicted for manslaughter after stabbing a man during a fight that broke out while he was going door-to-door soliciting business, police said.

Michael Tsamas, 33, was indicted on the charges of Aggravated Manslaughter, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and two counts of Possession of a Prohibited Weapon

On May 26, 2022, Tsamas was working for a company hired by Verizon to solicit customers on a door-to-door basis. He knocked on the door of Joseph Delgardio, 44, of Jackson.

Delgardio told Tsamas he wasn’t interested and Tsamas left, police said. A short time later, Delgardio confronted Tsamas on the street on West Veterans Highway near Conor Road. They began to fight, and Tsamas took a knife from his pocket and stabbed Delgardio in the neck.

First responders attempted to revive Delgardio, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. As a result, Tsamas was arrested without incident.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Victoria Veni who presented the case to the Grand Jury on behalf of the State, and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Jackson Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their collective and cooperative assistance in connection with this investigation.

The charges referenced are merely accusations and the public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.