Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Welcome to the new courant.com: Whats changed, FAQs and more, CT man found guilty of narcotics, firearm offenses, Hartford Civilian Police Review Board inspector general resigns, With old Ames HQ in Rocky Hill demolished, state kicks in nearly $1 million for multi-use development, Parkinsons symptoms eased by non-surgical procedure, study shows, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Following an eight-week trial, Griffin was convicted of two counts of murder and one count of capital felony, which should have been punishable by death, but she was spared. The law, which allows jurors to weigh aggravating and mitigating factors, took effect last year and is designed to make the death penalty easier to impose. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. The small community of Middletown, Connecticut, was left completely shocked when Patricia Lynn Steller and Ronald Kings double-murder came to light. Mazzotta was found on a Saturday evening slumped in his desk chair at . "Read more. Sgt. In my mind, that was the thing that did it for me, he said, adding that a fellow juror believed Griffin to be an excellent grandmother. That's when Fruean handed her a knife and told her to finish what she started. With that, the seven men and five women returned a verdict in about 30 minutes. He was a wimpy guy. She eventually agreed to be friends, but was jealous of the new relationship. In 2018, North Carolina man who fathered a child with his In 1786, she was accused of beating and choking to death a young white girl for stealing strawberries. Warrant: Ex-New Fairfield 'lunch lady' sent nude images to student on Snapchat for months before sex assault, Ex-Middletown official pleads guilty to DUI, 6-month jail sentence suspended, Former CT girls soccer coach pleads guilty to sexually assaulting player, No. Yale University psychiatrist Dr. Reena Kapoor said Smith heard "voices . During the trial, the defense had fought to block the introduction of the audiotape, a piece of evidence considered crucial to the prosecution. Komisarjevsky sexually assaulted Michaela. The child was the offspring of the father and daughter. wood chipper by Lake Zoar. Wilton. Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Apr 20, 2022 | 7:01 PM / 271 views. Coccia began a relationship with Steller in 1993 and moved to Connecticut the same year. Right before the sentencing, he said "I am not prepared. Police had no idea who committed the crimes. What do you think that is? Perez asked him. Here, you will find an abundance of information about our city and links to municipal services, including the ability to pay bills and request assistance from departments. He decided that resignation was the best route and signed the necessary papers. Everybody was understandably concerned for their familys welfare and safety, Siena said. Coccia returned home from work around 5:30 p.m. and found both victims dead. Jurors will remain impaneled for several more weeks while prosecutors and defense attorneys argue the appropriate penalty. Later, an autopsy revealed that Patricia was shot thrice by a small-caliber pistol while Ronald was shot just once. Crime in Wallingford, Connecticut (CT): murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law enforcement employees, police officers, crime map All Cities Connecticut, Connecticut smaller cities, Connecticut small towns Wallingford main page US Crime Crime rate in Wallingford, Connecticut (CT) The defense asked the jury to consider 20 possible mitigating factors, including Griffins years as a caring parent and member of society, and the claim that an accomplice was involved in the crime. However, after much deliberation, the jury did not agree and found her guilty as charged. June 3, 2022 . On November 1, 1993, Ronald and Patricia went out to work, just like any other day. She was bludgeoned over the head several times and stabbed nine times in her face, neck and chest in a chaotic struggle. when he had tasted the blood it had given him a sexual sensation," He said he needed tools to fix his car, and then asked for a beer. Under that law, Griffin could be spared the death penalty if the jury finds there was a single mitigating factor, such as mental incapacity at the time of the crime. pine tree in her yard in Greenwich. On Oct. 30 1975, 15-year-old Martha Moxley's body was found under a After he got off the phone with her, he told the 911 dispatcher that he did this because of racism and that [he] wished [he] had killed more people. Then he took his own life. ", Bridgeport had its own accused cannibal in 2012. Administrative Office Ms. Claudia Jalowka - Deputy Director II On the other hand, Janets accomplice Gordon Fruean broke down under interrogation and confessed it all to the police. We looked at each other and said, This is the case. Robert Owen Rankin, the victim's 22-year-old son, was. serving a sentence for first-degree manslaughter in the death of "The manner in which Crafts went about to hide his crime was shocking and unnerving to the department andcommunity.". At the time, no one knew who did it. Middletown police detectives got a big break in the case of the killings of Patricia Lynn Steller and her nephew Ronald King, as their slayings were recorded on Stellers answering machine. Miles of hiking trails throughout Middletown are open to the public. Griffin was tried under the states old death penalty law, which was in effect at the time the slayings took place. King was shot three times, stabbed several times and struck in the head with a glass jar. Realizing it to be a crime of passion involving a love triangle, authorities then focused on locating Janet. Gaylordsville then took his own life in Dover, N.Y., as Name: Date: Victims: Location : A: Lorne Joe ACQUIN: July 22, 1977: 9: Connecticut, USA: Lazale Delane ASHBY: 2002 / 2003: 2: Connecticut, USA : B: Matthew BECK March . Someone was strangling them with their bras. Things are not as good as they were before. I feel like , Why is it important for the defendant to return to court? Required fields are marked *. Van Der Kar said the jury did a good job with the information at hand, but would have arrived at a far different conclusion had the states new death penalty law been applied. middletown ct murders janet. squarespace add logo to footer; nc local government employee salaries. Family and friends of the two victims gasped, and some began to cry when the verdict was read. She is an award-winning multimedia journalist and resident of the North End of Middletown who has been reporting nearly every facet of the city for over two decades. William Devin Howell, 45, is currently in Garner Correctional Center We could hear Butch get me a knife, and then rummaging through knife door. The police scuba team recovered the weapon. "He was sentenced to 44 years in prison. However, the bullet wounds were not fatal, and thus, the perpetrator used other blunt objects to beat them before stabbing both victims multiple times. a young woman in 2003, is suspected of being the serial killer Griffin was in two-year romantic relationship with Gina Coccia that ended in 1992, according to a summary of the case from state Supreme Court. Griffins relationship with Coccia started when the two worked together in 1992. The grandmother, Mrs. Edith Fitzpatrick, 73, was beaten with a hammer. Once authorities showed up at Janets residence, she appeared to be highly cooperative and even gave them her blood sample for testing. I Compare Middletown crime data to other cities, states, and neighborhoods in the U.S. on NeighborhoodScout. Upcoming meetings of the Common Council and its committees are being held online. In what has been dubbed one of the strangest mass murders in Connecticut history, Lorne Acquin, 27, murdered the wife, seven children and niece of his foster brother. "I am sorry I lied. with an ax on Dec.15. Two invaders strangled his wife, raped her post-mortem, raped McKay and his partner in Griffins defense, Public Defender Richard F. Kelly, are already preparing for the next stage of the trial. Had jurors been applying the new law, Smola said, the panel might still be deliberating. Spurned lover Janet Griffin was convicted in 1999 of killing Stellar, the lover of her former girlfriend who lived in the Wesleyan Hills community, and King. Before he headed to the school, however, he murdered his own mother while she was still in bed. It's very difficult to review this case, as there, The FBi has been murdering people for years since their, Clearly its hard for some people to understand that although, What is taking so long? Post author: Post published: junho 10, 2022; Post category: the gridlessness family; Post comments: . He found a card that read Janet G. and a number from the Rutland, Vt., telephone exchange. A Middletown police detective is now taking a fresh look at the unsolved double murder, and a local victims advocate is helping to solicit any information about the possible killer. Assistant States Attorney Timothy J. Liston sought the death penalty on grounds the murders were committed in an especially heinous, cruel and depraved manner, one of several aggravating factors identified under state law. An initial medical inspection proved that the victims had been shot and stabbed multiple times. Post author: Post published: June 8, 2022 Post category: drag strips near me open today Post comments: is rachel brown related to marc brown is rachel brown related to marc brown According to him, he doesnt remember anything about that night. MIDDLETOWN, CT A Middletown double murder case that was solved with the help of an answering machine recording will be featured on crime documentary series "Diabolical" on Investigation. MIDDLETOWN A double murder in an idyllic planned community on the outskirts of the city nearly 26 years ago will catapult Middletown onto the national stage this week. They entered Stellers house through a dog door and waited for Steller and King to return from work. am sorry I ruined lives and I am sorry for taking Annie Le's life. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Startseite > Uncategorized > middletown ct murders janet. Her accomplice confessed to police that after the murders, they threw the gun in the water near Cypress Grill on South Main Street. Her body has not been recovered. Now retired Middletown police Detective Robert Barone reviews his case files pertaining to the November 1993 double murder of Patricia Lynn Steller and her nephew Ronald King. Attacked in their kitchen, Steller was shot once, stabbed numerous times in the face, neck and chest and hit in the head with a lamp. Welcome to the City of Middletowns website! middletown ct murders janet. The "bra murders" case was about serial killings, race, mental illness, prostitution, ambition and the national spotlight. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Here are just ten of the most horrific: On July 22, 2007, Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters, Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11, went on what they thought was just another grocery store run. They heard Griffin yell to Fruean, get me something, Siena said. person than I will ever be in my life," Clark said. The capital felony charge, which is punishable by death or life in prison, hinged on the jurys finding that Griffin murdered two people in the same violent rage. However, in 1950, six years after the incident, Segee stepped forward and claimed responsibility, stating that a dream about an Indian riding a flaming horse told him to start the fire. Calling Griffins jealous rage out of character, juror Mark Smola said in an interview Wednesday that each member of the panel had no trouble coming up with a mitigating factor. 245 deKoven Drive, Middletown, CT 06457. Allen, Janet Leonard, 82 of Middletown, CT, beloved wife of Robert H. Allen, "Bob" passed away August 29, 2020 while residing at Middlesex Health Care's Dementia Wing, under Hospice Care in. His 240-pound body was then sawed into seven pieces and dumped on a dead-end street in Bedford, NY, where it was discovered three weeks later. In August 2013 Tully Knight entered a guilty plea to criminally negligent homicide. If she didnt, he told her, her family would be harmed. In 2014, Langley was convicted of manslaughter, meaning she can still inherit her late husband's $1.2 million estate. She was a friend, and with a friend, finding out theyre your worst enemy is horrifying.. Seale was freed after the jury failed to reach a verdict, but Mr. Kimbro was convicted of second-degree murder and went to prison for nearly five years. Easily the worst mass murder in Connecticut history, Sandy Hook will forever be remembered as one of our nations greatest tragedies. Dr. Petit was severely beaten, but and his wife and two daughters were killed. The show will air June 4 at 9 p.m. In 2015, Myers was convicted of third-degree strangulation in New Haven and was given a suspended sentence and probation, records show. 9 UConn womens basketball vs. Georgetown: Time, TV and what you need to know, NY man who killed and skinned Ridgefield dogs was twice told they were not coyotes, warrant shows, CT education board grants initial approval for Middletown charter school, Former mayor, Mormon bishop gets prison for child sex abuse, The Best Private High Schools Near Hartford, Guide to Legal Cannabis Dispensaries in CT, The Best Window Replacement Companies in CT. of thenight. Very thin, very small she used him because she probably felt the only way to get into the house was through a dog door, Barone said. The Middletown Trail Guide provides trail maps and detailed descriptions of the Citys open spaces and conservation areas. There was blood all over the place . kimberly high school mascot. It was never determined how it happened, but investigators surmise that the attackers activated it while cutting the telephone line. The cause of death was determined to be stab wounds, and from the intensity of the murder, the police suspected it to be a crime of passion. The case began in the late 1960s, when it became clear that a serial killer was on the loose in Stamford. Police said the day before Tyree Lincoln Smith hacked to death a homeless man in an he had a "lust forblood.". Hartford, CT . The missing . This week on Reasonable Doubt, the team takes on the Raul and Cathy Sarinana were sentenced to death for abusing Would love your thoughts, please comment. For . When he entered the home, he discovered that a homeless man was already living there, but instead of asking him ever so politely to leave, he took an ax and smashed in his face. Fruean was found guilty by a jury of first-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Soon after, a blood test proved she had lied. - New York In lieu of a body, police found strands of fact that a town resident has been charged in the killings." Crime rate in Guilford, CT The 2019 crime rate in Guilford, CT is 60 (City-Data.com crime index), which is 4.5 times smaller than the U.S. average. Police never determined how that happened. middletown ct murders janet. A 61-year-old New Canaan woman was found lying in a pool of blood after I took them off and I said Noel, I think thats the homicide taking place.. Investigation Discovery channels Diabolical true crime documentary series, airing Tuesday night, will feature the events surrounding the 1993 criminal homicides of a convicted killers ex-lovers new flame and her nephew in an episode called Recording Evil.. Soon after firefighters knocked down the door, they discovered eight dead bodies belonging to 29-year-old Cheryl Beaudoin, her seven childrenFrederick Allen, 12; Sharon Lee, 10; Debra Ann, 9; Paul Albert, 8; Roderick, 6; Holly Lynn, 5, and Mary Lou, 4and a 6-year-old family friend, Jennifer Santoro. Police called Le's death a case of workplace violence. in 1975. She is being held at a high-security prison at York Correctional Institution in East Lyme, Connecticut. Your email address will not be published. Thats when Fruean handed her a knife and told her to finish what she started. robbery at the Bloomingdale's parking garage, Stamford policesaid.The medical examiner would determine that Marien Boucher Javery was stabbed five times in the back of the neck. Barbara was found dead on the morning of March 3, 2010, in the yard of her rental house on Middle Beach Road in Madison, Conn. Police responded at . Sources say the hired hit possibly is linked to the April mob-style murder of Middletown businessman, Joseph D. Mazzotta, 40. She stabbed both victims with different knives several times and bashed them both over the head with objects. It was December of 2011. From the outside, Connecticut may seem like a charming little state with scenic docks, numerous museums centered around the states rich history and, of course, Yale University. However, she insisted on her innocence and claimed that she was not involved in the double murder. People were alive, pleading for their lives.. strangling Le. Sheila Davalloo was arrested in 2008 for the Raymundo homicide. benchmade adamas exclusive; disney plus march 2022 releases; middletown ct murders janet . Besides the tape, police investigators seized three bloody kitchen knives from the kitchen. email: janet.zigadto@jud.ct.gov Library Hours: M-F, 9-5 | Directions. Middletown Law Library at Middletown Courthouse One Court Street, Middletown, CT 06457 Telephone: (860) 343-6560 - Fax: (860) 343-6568 . Griffin, 72, is serving a life. Share Background Report Overview of William T Varhue Lives in: Middletown, Connecticut Phone: (860) 632-5881 Gender: Male Joshua Komisarjevsky (pictured right) was convicted Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011 on several counts related to the beating of Dr. William Petit Jr., and killing his wife Jennifer Hawke-Petit and their daughters. Kyle Navin was sentenced to two concurrent 55-yeer terms for the 2015 murders of his parents, Jeanette and Jeffrey Navin. 3 of 14 4 of 14 Alex Murdaugh, center, is handcuffed in the courtroom after a guilty verdict of his double murder trial was read aloud at Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C., Thursday . Griffin, who had been roommates with Coccia became upset at the news and said she wanted to resume a romantic relationship with Coccia. The two men then poured gasoline all around the house and the two surviving girls and lit the house on first. He is a male registered to vote in Connecticut. middletown ct murders janet. The panel deliberated for three days before middletown ct murders janet. Resources for Seniors during COVID-19 Pandemic, Submit an Event to the Community Calendar. In 2011, the 77-year-old was convicted of first-degree manslaughter with a firearm Friday in state Superior Court by a three-judge panel that presided over the case. He is accused of being Griffins accomplice, egging her on during the murders and, at one point, handing her a knife to use as a weapon. Its a hard thing to sentence someone to die, said Fred King, Ronald Kings father, when reached at his New York home. The trial and subsequent hanging of Haddam's own Emil Schutte for the murders of the Ball family of Haddam caused a sensation in Connecticut during the 1920s. On May 20, 1969, Black Panther Warren Kimbro fatally shot Alex Rackley, a 19-year-old Black Panther member who party members believed was an FBI informant. Get Directions. middletown ct murders janet. Her husband had insisted she ran away in the middle Bail reforms intended to ensure that indigent defendants are not jailed simply for lack of resources won final passage in the Senate early Wednesday on a 29 to 7 , Believe it or not, but the Mafia actually has a rich and colorful history in Connecticut. Griffins arrest and subsequent trial have shaken the people of Rutland, a town of about 19,000 nestled at the foot of ski country near Mount Killington. In Griffins case, prosecutors said, the only witnesses were either dead or charged with the crime. The episode Recording Evil airs 9 p.m. Tuesday. best dj pool for old school music. Janet was ultimately convicted of two counts of murder in addition to a single count of a capital felony. Fruean was a housekeeper at the resort at the time of the murders. Toggle navigation. implicate Raymundo's boyfriend, a prosecution witness and her former Gina Coccia, the 27-year-old woman at the center of the fateful love triangle, left the courtroom in tears. 1. Griffin later winked at her family and friends, but did not smile. The Connecticut medical examiner said that Le died of "traumatic asphyxiation," which could indicate a choke hold or some other form of suffocation caused by a hand or an object such as a pipe.In 2011, Raymond Clark III, 26, apologized in state Superior Court in New During Smith's 2013 trial, Information on attending these meetings is available here. She vanished Sept. 8 and her body was discovered five days later her wedding daystuffed behind a wall in the basement of the research building where she and Raymomd Clark III worked. William Bigaud Jr., 37, was taken into. It was the most incredible thing to hear: No, Janet, no! Loso said the night before the verdict she talked to her mother, who was hopeful but prepared for the worst. The incident left one dead and a. On November 1, 1993, Steller, 49, and King who were two Wesleyan University employees were returning to the home they shared in Middletown, Connecticut, when they were shot by Griffin, but the shots were not fatal. mother's golf club. The police were immediately informed, and they arrived to find both Ronald and Patricia already deceased. On the last trip her friend refused to drive her down. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. At some point the telephone answering machine was activated and recorded part of the incident. Okay. On July 23, 2007 a brutal home invasion took place in the home of Dr. Petit William Petit. Nevertheless, once the forensic reports arrived, the police found that Janets DNA was a perfect match for the one found at the crime scene, which led to them arresting and charging her with double murder. The same jury that decided Griffins guilt will decide whether she lives or dies. Newtown Chief of Police Michael Kehoe, 54, who was a patrolman for the department 20 years ago, vividly remembered thecase in 2009. MIDDLETOWN, CT A man has been charged with murder in connection with the killing of a woman in Middletown earlier this year, according to police. Despite having a deep cut on her palm, Griffin denied killing Steller and King and claimed that she cut her hand while changing a light bulb. What am I supposed to do now? The crime sent shock waves through the community near the Durham line, Siena said. Ronald King was Patricia Lynn Stellers nephew, and the two shared a residence in Middletown, Connecticut. Griffin, who has multiple sclerosis and was brought into court in a wheelchair, closed her eyes, bit her lower lip and shook her head slightly as each of the 12 jurors affirmed their verdicts before a crowded courtroom. Richard Crafts was a commercial pilot who was living a comfortable Middletown police said Griffin was only after Steller and that King was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Unsuccessful at getting her conviction overturned, Janet Griffin is currently serving her life sentence behind bars at the York Correctional Institution in East Lyme, Connecticut. Wethersfield. MIDDLETOWN, CT A Middletown double murder case that was solved with the help of an answering machine recording will be featured on crime documentary series "Diabolical" on Investigation Discovery. Stellers brother, Jack Van Der Kar, was relieved the eight-week trial was over, but said Griffin got an unwarranted reprieve. Watertown. Somehow, during the attack, the memo function on the answering machine was activated and the entire murders caught on audiotape, Barone said. Three locals were honored for their heroic act of rescuing the life of a police officer who was stabbed during an argument. Lets take a closer look at the details and find out where the perpetrator is at present, shall we? Myers and Fasciocco had been dating, but Fasciocco attempted to break off the relationship in the weeks leading up to her death, and stopped taking his calls or responding to his texts, "This case shows the devastating effect domestic violence can have not only on the victim but also on the victims family members and friends," Middlesex States Attorney Michael A. Gailor said in a written statement. MIDDLETOWN -- A jury found a Vermont woman guilty Monday of murdering two Middletown people in a vengeful rage, setting the stage for a penalty hearing that could result in the first. She did some things to [Steller] that were really gruesome.. middletown ct murders janet. He then beat the children with the wrench and a tire iron and molested 10-year-old Sharron Beaudoin. The same jury had found Griffin guilty of the murder and capital felony charges April 22. If a relationship doesnt work out, you dont kill somebody. In 1970, a New Canaan boy became the subject of a nation-wide search after his mother, sister, brother and grandmother were found killed. Get another one, Griffin could be heard ordering Fruean . View Original Notice - Obituary for . VITA prepares tax returns free for households with income under $60,000. Skakel, 39 at The three women died, but Dr. Petit managed to escape. Click on the link below to see a map of police calls for service. The answering machine recording proved to be a massive breakthrough in the case as it recorded the voices of both the killer and her accomplice. Elizabeth's husband, John - newcanaan.dailyvoice.comRead more. It is not essential that the defendant Janet Griffin be the sole cause of death, Miano said. In August 2010, Omar Thornton was caught stealing beer from the beer distribution company for which he worked. It was a mess. "Annie was and will always be a wonderful person, by far a better missing in Newtown. Erik Ofgang, eofgang@connecticutmag.com Jan. 19, 2021 8 Gordon Butch Fruean II, 33, of Rutland, is awaiting a separate trial on two counts of accessory to murder and capital felony. across the country, and were connected to a drug called "bathsalts. One of Griffins attorneys, Public Defender James McKay, said he accepted and understood the jurors decision. Ridgefield, failed to show up for work March 3 and police discovered her Though small and seemingly inconsequential to the rest of the union, Connecticut has had some of the most publicized murders in the country. Prosecutors said Griffin of Rutland was a jilted lover motivated by revenge when she and an accomplice trapped Patricia Lynn Steller, 43, and Stellers nephew, Ronald H. King, 26, in their Middletown home Nov. 1, 1993. Barone was interviewed for the Investigative Discovery show. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less Red Orange Road in Middletowns Wesleyan Hills neighborhood. They had a good reputation in society and were employed in the citys Wesleyan University. . In the early hours of July 22, 1977, at around 4:15 am, neighbors awoke to the smell of smoke coming from . Griffin realized that Steller and King were still alive after she ran out of bullets and asked Fruean to hand her a knife from the kitchen, according to the court summary. Griffin, 72, is serving a life sentence in Niantic prison. Nine days after the killing, police arrested Bernard Williams (pictured left), a 29-year-old drifter, ex-convict and drug addict from North Carolina. Most accurate 2021 crime rates for Middletown, CT. lover. That morning, Tom Flannery had left for work and his wife was getting ready to take their daughter, Kylie, to Thomas Hooker School for her first day. the younger daughter, poured gasoline on the two girls and set them and The murder occurred in the servants' quarters of Greenwich hedge fund executive S. Donald Sussman's Sterling Road estate, where Dobrzanski's wife was the family cook and he was the landscaper. He then ate his eyes, which he later said, tasted like oysters. Once he was through with the eyeballs, he drank some sake to wash down the taste of human organs, and then proceeded to go to the local Subway for a sub. Investigation Discoverys Trick or Terror showcases the horrifying murder and follows the police investigation, which ultimately revealed a tragic love triangle. While he did eventually shoot himself, he barricaded himself in an office before doing so and called his mother to explain to her that he was going to kill himself. However, though the police were well aware of Silks illness, nothing prepared them for what she was to do on June 10, 1999. mr rosson royal surrey hospital. Liston presented more than 100 pieces of circumstantial evidence during the four- week trial, including a telephone answering machine cassette that recorded the slayings. There was blood all over the place . landscaper, currently serving a 15-year prison sentence for the death of Less than a year after the woman disappeared, a bullet-riddled skull attached to three vertebrae was found next to a Glenbrook business where the father of the woman's two children worked.It wasn't until 2012 that DNA testing confirmed the skull belonged to Joseph.