Trial starts for man accused of beating elderly neighbor to death

TOMS RIVER – Anthony “Tony” Verdicchio was a 76-year-old creature of habit, who was an avid collector of everything from baseball cards to Disney figurines and who loved flea markets. On the morning of May 12, 2013, Verdicchio stopped on his way out of Mass at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church to wish a long-time friend, Mary…