A door-to-door salesman from Pennsylvania has been sentenced to 22 years in a New Jersey state prison for stabbing a man to death outside his home in Ocean County in 2022.
The salesman, 27-year-old Isaiah Taylor, pleaded guilty earlier this year to first-degree aggravated manslaughter.
The deadly incident happened in June 2022 in Manchester Township. According to authorities, Taylor had been going door to door in the neighborhood trying to sell pest control services.
At one of the homes, he got into a heated argument with a resident, 44-year-old Michael Gorohoff.
What started as a disagreement quickly turned violent. Prosecutors said that Taylor pulled out a knife and stabbed Gorohoff during the confrontation outside the house. Gorohoff was taken to a nearby hospital but later died from his injuries.
Taylor was arrested shortly after the stabbing. Investigators said they found the knife he used and linked it to the crime. Witnesses also gave statements confirming that Taylor had stabbed Gorohoff during the altercation.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer shared that the case was particularly tragic because it happened so suddenly and over something that seemed minor. “This was a senseless act of violence. It’s hard to understand how a routine day turned into a deadly one,” he said.
The court proceedings took place in Ocean County Superior Court. On Friday, the judge sentenced Taylor to 22 years in prison.
Under New Jersey law, he must serve at least 85% of the sentence before he is eligible for parole. This means he will need to spend nearly 19 years behind bars before even having a chance to be released.
During the sentencing hearing, members of Gorohoff’s family spoke about the pain and trauma they’ve experienced since losing him.
They described him as a loving family man who didn’t deserve what happened. “He stepped outside his house and never came back. We lost a brother, a son, and a friend,” one family member said.
Taylor also spoke briefly in court. He expressed remorse for his actions and apologized to the victim’s family. But the judge said the apology didn’t undo the pain caused and emphasized that actions have consequences.
According to prosecutors, Taylor had no prior criminal record, but the nature of the crime—bringing a deadly weapon into a neighborhood and using it during a business interaction—was too serious for a lighter sentence.
The court treated the case as an aggravated manslaughter rather than murder, which typically results in a longer prison sentence.
Taylor’s employer at the time was not named in the case, but officials clarified that the company he was working for was unaware of any violent behavior and fully cooperated with the investigation.
This incident raised concerns about the risks of door-to-door sales in residential areas. Some residents questioned whether background checks are done before salespeople are sent into neighborhoods. Others expressed fear about opening the door to strangers.
Manchester police advised residents to use caution when dealing with door-to-door sales representatives. They encouraged people to ask for identification and to report any suspicious behavior. “If something doesn’t feel right, don’t open the door. Call the police if needed,” a police official said.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office handled the case, with help from Manchester Township Police and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office. Their joint investigation was key in collecting evidence and building a strong case against Taylor.
This case is one of several in recent years in New Jersey where arguments have escalated into deadly violence. Officials continue to urge the public to resolve disputes peacefully and avoid confrontations that could turn dangerous.
For more information on criminal sentencing laws in New Jersey, visit the New Jersey Courts website. Residents can also contact the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office for updates and public safety resources.
This tragic case serves as a reminder that violence can break out in everyday situations and that personal safety and calm conflict resolution are more important than ever in today’s world.