Highlands Man Argued With Roommate Over Food Out, Dirty Dishes, Then Killed Him, Police Say

HIGHLANDS, NJ — The man accused of fatally stabbing his roommate Monday in Highlands had argued with his roommate over dirty dishes and food being left out, causing ants to come into the house, according to a criminal complaint from Highlands Police.

Michael Dunzello, 49, is charged with first-degree murder and a weapons charge for the fatal stabbing of Angus McDougald, 49. The two were roommates at a home on the 20 block of North Street.

At 5:58 p.m. Monday, Highlands Police were called there for a report of a stabbing. The 9-1-1 caller stated he stabbed someone and that he would be in the driveway while police responded.

It was Dunzello who called 911, and he kept repeating to dispatchers that he "snapped," said police.

When police got to the home, they found Dunzello kneeling down next to the victim. Dunzello had blood on his hands and wrists and McDougald was lying face down on the living room floor, "in a pool of blood," said police. He had been stabbed twice, once in the neck and upper back.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A witness to the alleged murder, who may be a third roommate who lived in the home, said he heard Dunzello and McDougald arguing just before the alleged stabbing.

The witness told police he came home Monday evening and noticed a half of a watermelon on the counter; the watermelon belonged to Angus.

He said he heard Dunzello and McDougald then argue about ant traps and the fact that the watermelon was bringing ants into the house. After about two minutes of arguing with voices slightly raised, the witness said he heard a knock sound and heard Dunzello say “Angus, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do that."

"I snapped, this guy was like f- making fun of me and s- and I was cleaning the dishes up that he left there for three f- days and I stabbed him," Dunzello also told the 911 operator, according to police.

The knife, the alleged murder weapon, was found in the home's kitchen sink.

Dunzello was arrested at the scene and he is currently being held in the Monmouth County jail. The case is being investigated by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Bureau and the Highlands Police Department.

Man Stabbed Roommate To Death In Monmouth County, Prosecutor Says (Sept. 22)