Men allegedly bound murder victim with duct tape, stole ATM card

WOODBURY -- A grand jury has indicted two men in the March murder of an Elk Township resident.

Lawrence A. Bohrer, 48, of Pittsgrove Township, and Thomas J. Bergholz, 33, of Franklin Township, are accused of killing 57-year-old Michael A. Fazzio in his home.

Investigators believe the crime began as a robbery.

A family member found Fazzio's body in his Buck Road home on March 13.

His hands and feet were bound with duct tape, he was tied up with an extension cord and a comforter was tied around his head, according to criminal complaints signed in the case.

Fazzio died of mechanical and positional asphyxia when he was left with a "compromised airway," according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.

Investigators believe he was killed on the evening of March 10.

Fazzio's cellphone and ATM card were stolen and $500 was later removed from his account at an ATM in Clayton.

Surveillance footage from the ATM shows the man who used the card wearing a green hooded sweatshirt, a pair of Grease Monkey brand gloves, and a blue bandana over his face. Investigation led police to Bohrer and Bergholz, who were found in possession of similar articles of clothing

Investigators interviewed Bergholz on May 14, when he denied hurting Fazzio or stealing from him. He suggested Bohrer might have been involved, but Bohrer also denied involvement.

Fazzio and his alleged killers were acquaintances, but officials did not elaborate on how they knew each other.

Tests later revealed Fazzio's DNA on the gloves found in Bohrer's possession, according to the complaints. Cellphone data also put the pair near the victim's home around the time of his death.

Investigators also learned that the duo purchased drugs in Philadelphia hours after Fazzio died, according to complaints. A few hours after that, Bergholz allegedly sent a text message to Bohrer, "Get everything out of ur truck that I wore cause them clothes are dirty. U know what I mean."

Later that day, Bergholz also used his cellphone to search Fazzio's name on the internet.

Bergholz was arrested at a homeless shelter in Camden with the assistance of the Camden County Sheriff's Department, while Bohrer was taken into custody at a relative's home in Philadelphia with the assistance of the U.S. Marshal's Service.

Both men were indicted on charges including first-degree murder, robbery, theft, criminal restraint and endangering another.

They remain jailed in Salem County Correctional Facility.

Fazzio's daughter, Stephanie, spoke during a press conference announcing the arrests in May and described her father as outgoing, helpful and always willing to talk with others.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

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