Recently fired worker held in hammer attack
Home News Tribune Online 02/9/06By KEN SERRANO
STAFF WRITER
kserrano@thnt.com

WOODBRIDGE — Without saying a word, a man wearing a stocking over his face strode into the Quick Chek on Gill Lane early yesterday and — after being asked if he needed help — slammed a store manager in the head with a hammer, police said.

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But the manager, Robin DePuy, 40, of Edison and another employee, William Voeckel, 49, of Perth Amboy reacted quickly. They pinned the assailant with the help of a customer, 54-year-old Edison postal worker Heidi Macyszyn, who called police and then held down the man's arm, police said.

And while DePuy and the others struggled with the man, the manager recognized him.

The attacker, John Nadzak, 33, of Iselin, had been fired from the Quick Chek several months ago, police said.

During the struggle, Nadzak cut both men with a 4-inch knife taped to his hand and concealed in his sleeve, police said. The employees' injuries were not life-threatening, said Woodbridge police Lt. Tom Gennarelli.

Patrolmen Timothy Laughery and James Chessere encountered the blood-splattered scene shortly after the 5:30 a.m. attack.

Nadzak was arrested and charged with first-degree armed robbery, two counts of aggravated assault, and weapons offenses. If convicted of the robbery charge alone, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

The convenience store was closed for several hours following the assaults.

"Without a word, the suspect swung a hammer and hit (DePuy) in the head," Gennarelli said.

More unusual than the wordless attack was how Nadzak prepared for it, he said.

Nadzak was shoeless.

He was wearing socks covered on the bottom with black electrical tape. And he wrapped tape around his ankles, Gennarelli said.

He also covered the tips of his fingers and wrapped his wrists with the tape.

Police found another knife concealed in Nadzak's inner front pocket, Gennarelli said. Authorities did not release a motive in the attack. Neither DePuy, Voeckel nor Macyszyn could be reached.

Nadzak was "highly uncooperative" when detectives spoke to him, Gennarelli said.

Workers at the Quick Chek yesterday said they did not know Nadzak.

Regulars at the store were stunned.

"I think it's terrible, in fact, I'm disappointed," said Ike Brock, 67, of Edison. "It's a nice, quiet little spot."

Ben Cheslow, 30, who lives in Elizabeth but works nearby at New York Life, also expressed surprise at the attack.

"Generally you associate this type of crime with a low-income area," he said.