Reckless Manslaughter Charges Issued Against Manalapan Man for 2014 Death

MAYS LANDING – A Manalapan man was arrested yesterday for reckless manslaughter in connection with the November 2014 death of a 27-year-old Howell, NJ, man, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced today.

At 1:19 a.m. on November 1, 2014, emergency medical personnel responded to Harrah’s Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City for a report of an injury caused by a fall. Thomas J. Walker, 27, of Howell, NJ, was transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center—City Division with a head injury.

Walker died in the hospital on November 15, 2014.

An autopsy performed the following day by Southern Regional Medical Examiner, Dr. Ian Hood, determined cause of death to be head injury, and the manner: homicide.

The nine-month investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Atlantic City Police Department led to a criminal indictment on August 19, 2015, when an Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted Matthew J. Piazza, 25, of Candeub Court, Manalapan, NJ, for reckless manslaughter.

The Atlantic County Superior Court set bail on the warrant on indictment at $100,000 full cash.

Piazza surrendered himself to Major Crimes Unit detectives at the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office in Mays Landing yesterday, August 20, 2015. He was lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility in lieu of bail.

The State alleges that Piazza punched the victim while inside Harrah’s Casino, causing his head injury and subsequent death.

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Seth Levy represents the State in the matter.

These charges are an accusation and not proof of guilt. In all criminal cases, a charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.