Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office

25 Kirkpatrick Street, 3^rd Floor, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08901 (732) 745-3300

*News Release* Date: May 20, 2011

Bruce

New York man charged in death

Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan and Robert Hubner, director of the Woodbridge Police Department, announced that a New York man was arrested today and charged in connection with the death of a Colonia man, who was found on a township street on May 18, 2011.

Frank Barbaccia (DOB 9/25/67) of Congers, N.Y. was arrested at Woodbridge police headquarters, where he was charged with failing to dispose of human remains as required by law.

He also was charged with hindering his apprehension by giving false statements to police during their investigation into the death of Nicholas Sorice, 26, of the Colonia section of Woodbridge.

Bail was set at $50,000 for Barbaccia, who remained in custody.

An investigation by Detective Edward Galinas of the Woodbridge Police Department and Investigator Adrian Villegas of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office determined that Barbaccia left Mr. Sorice on the side of a road, believing he had died. The two men were acquaintances.

The investigation began when a motorist called 911 at 5:39 a.m. on May 18, 2011, and reported a man laying near the curb on Willow Avenue, near Route 27, in Woodbridge. Mr. Sorice was pronounced dead at 6:01 a.m.

An autopsy performed by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office did not immediately determine the cause of death. Additional testing will be performed.

The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Galinas of the Woodbridge Police Department at (732) 602-7321, or Investigator Villegas of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-4428.

As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against Barbaccia are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.