Monmouth County Man Convicted In 2013 Murder Of Brick Man

FREEHOLD, NJ -- A Monmouth County man has been found guilty of the 2013 murder of a Brick Township man, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccion announced.

Spencer S. Young, 21, of Sewell Avenue in Asbury Park, was found guilty Friday of one count each of second degree robbery, first-degree felony murder, and first-degree aggravated manslaughter, for the murder of 36-year-old Thomas J. Sudano Jr., according to a news release from the prosecutor's office.

Sudano, 36, was assaulted July 27, 2013, sometime after midnight, according to the prosecutor's office. Asbury Park police were called to the area of 1100 Atlantic Ave. for a report of an unconscious male lying in the street. Upon arrival, police found the man -- later identified as Sudano -- unconscious, in cardiac arrest and without any neurological responses.

He died two days later. The Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death a homicide was caused by blunt force trauma to the head and neck, the prosecutor's office said.

During the trial, it was learned that Sudano took a taxi from Brick to Asbury Park to meet with co-defendant J.B. shortly before midnight in order to purchase narcotics. J.B. and Spencer Young met with Sudano at the McDonald’s on Route 35 in Neptune before J.B. and Young lured Sudano into a housing complex in Asbury Park with the intentions of robbing him.

At trial, a witness testified he observed both Young and J.B. with the victim around midnight. The witness testified that without provocation or warning, J.B. and Young assaulted Sudano, punching, stomping and kicking him. Sudano attempted to flee from his attackers but fell to the ground unconscious. As Sudano lay motionless, Young and J.B. continued their assault, kicking and punching Sudano in the head and body. They stole Sudano’s cellular phone and money before fleeing the area and leaving Sudano lying unconscious in the street.

Young was found in possession of Sudano's cell phone in Asbury Park three days after the assault. Cellular telephone records revealed that the phone was in constant use by Young from 12:26 a.m. on July 27, 2013 until he was taken into custody by police on July 30, 2013, the prosecutor's office said.