Serial Stalker Referenced Sarah Stern Murder (UPDATE): MCPO

A New Jersey man is in jail facing charges of stalking, burglary and cyber-harassment following a series of events that appear to have started after he harassed women through social media – and even referenced the Sarah Stern murder trial, according to prosecutors.

The suspect ultimately broke into the Neptune Township home of two of his female victims, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

In one case, Delhagen is accused of utilizing social media accounts to repeatedly send threatening messages and sexually explicit materials to another young female victim and her mother. Those threatening messages also included references to the Sarah Stern homicide.

A New Jersey man was sentenced to life without parole on Friday for the murder of 19-year-old Sarah Stern, who went missing on December 2, 2016 and was never found. Read more: Judge Gives Sentence To Convicted Murderer In Sarah Stern Case

Wayde M. Delhagen, of Wayside Road in Neptune Township, was arrested on a variety of charges after Neptune Township Police responded to a 3 a.m. 911 call on June 15. The call was for a possible burglary at a home in the 700 block of Wayside Road, according to the MCPO.

Upon arrival, officers spoke to the 18-year-old female victim and her mother who said someone had broken into the girl’s bedroom through a window while they were asleep in another part of the residence, according to the MCPO.

The victim indicated she had been having trouble with a man she met using social media, according to the MCPO.

While continuing their investigation during a search of the surrounding area, Neptune Township police officers located Delhagen in front of a nearby home. He was found in possession of a bathing suit top and a bra belonging to the victim and taken from a laundry basket located under the window of her bedroom, according to the MCPO.

At that time, Delhagen was charged with burglary, theft and criminal mischief. He was released on a summons in accordance with the recommendation from Delhagen’s Public Safety Assessment.

The Neptune Township police continued its investigation, and learned the victim had previously had first come in contact with Delhagen last year through social media. That contact morphed into harassment after the victim rejected Delhagen’s efforts to set up a meeting for the two, forcing the victim to cut off any communication between them, according to the MCPO.

In May 2019, Delhagen contacted the victim using a different social media platform, asking if he could come over to the victim’s house and inquiring if her mother was home. He then sent her disturbing images including a Google Maps image of the victim’s residence, according to the MCPO.

After he was again rejected by the victim, Delhagen sent a harassing message to the girl’s mother.

Neptune Township Police charged him with stalking and cyber-harassment, and he was taken
to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution.

Delhagen is also charged out of Neptune City, with two counts of fourth degree cyber-harassment,
as part of an ongoing investigation into harassing messages sent via social media and his cell phone to a separate set of victims.

In that case, Delhagen is accused of utilizing social media accounts to repeatedly send threatening messages and sexually explicit materials to another young female victim and her mother. Those threatening messages also included references to the Stern homicide.

Delhagen is currently being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold Township. He had a first appearance on June 26 before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge James J. McGann.

A detention hearing is scheduled for July 1, 2019, before McGann.

If convicted of burglary, Delhagen faces a sentence of three to five years in prison. If convicted of the fourth degree offenses, he faces up to 18 months in state prison on each count.

Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to contact Detective James Van Etten of the Neptune City Police Department at (732) 455-0117, or Det. Erick Amadruto of the Neptune Twp. Police Department at (732) 988-8000 ext. 419.

Anyone who feels the need to remain anonymous but has information about a crime can contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers confidential telephone tip-line by calling 1-800-671-4400; can text "MONMOUTH” plus their tip to 274637; or, they can email a tip via the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com. Monmouth County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of criminals and fugitives.