TOMS RIVER, N.J. – A story that went viral on social media claiming the Township of Toms River, and more directly, Mayor Daniel T. Rodrick had thrown out a Purple Heart Medal owned by a homeless veteran has been found to be completely fabricated by Rodrick’s political opponents.
The story was first published by the operator of a Facebook page operated by anti-Rodrick politico Chris Lyle, which was later repeated by other local news sites, including Jersey Shore Online.
Now, a retired U.S. Army master sergeant and Global War on Terror combat veteran is calling out the viral social media post that claimed a homeless veteran’s Purple Heart medal was thrown away during a cleanup of a Toms River homeless encampment, calling the story “completely fabricated” and politically motivated.
Daniel Patrick Leonard, a retired Master Sergeant and Afghanistan war veteran, said the story — spread by Lyle was a “total lie” meant solely to attack Mayor Dan Rodrick and township employees.
Leonard said the rumor surfaced around June 19, when officials began relocating homeless residents from the Toms River Library parking garage amid summer heat and public debate over the encampment’s future.
Mayor Rodrick had immediately rejected Lyle’s claim, but the story, through Lyle’s social media page went viral, leading to anger and resentment against the mayor.
Leonard shared the story on the Garden State Confidential Facebook group.
According to Leonard, Lyle falsely claimed that township workers threw away a Purple Heart and military discharge papers belonging to a 100% disabled veteran who had served three combat tours.
No veteran ever came forward to back up the rumor.
Leonard said he immediately went to the parking garage to locate the alleged veteran but found no evidence anyone matching that description existed or that any medals had been discarded.
Investigation found no such veteran or discarded medals
Leonard said he contacted Just Believe Inc., a local homeless outreach organization, which also confirmed they had no knowledge of such a veteran living in the garage.
“I was unable to locate this veteran and nobody even knew what I was talking about,” Leonard said. “It turns out there never was a Purple Heart recipient living there.”
He said that when confronted by residents, Lyle privately admitted the story was false, boasting that his “fake Purple Heart story hurt him,” referring to Mayor Rodrick.
Leonard, who shared screenshots and messages backing his account, said the episode marked “the beginning of the end” of his relationship with Lyle, who he accused of repeatedly lying about being a combat veteran himself.
Leonard said the false claim unfairly targeted the mayor and damaged public trust in legitimate veterans’ issues. “Every veteran who reads this should be angry,” he wrote, adding that using veterans as political props was “beyond disrespectful.”
On Friday, November 8th, Lyle was charged by the Manchester Police Departmetn for harassment and spent the next week under evaluation. Police reported that as a precaution his firearms were confiscated. The Manchester Police Department has refused to release records of the incident citing ‘domestic’ reasons during an active investigation.
Key Points
- Retired Army Master Sergeant Daniel Leonard says claims of a veteran’s Purple Heart being trashed in Toms River are “100% false.”
- Leonard says social media publisher Chris Lyle admitted fabricating the story to hurt Mayor Dan Rodrick politically.
- Outreach group Just Believe Inc. confirmed no such veteran or discarded medals were found at the encampment site.