Carolyn
07-24-2007, 10:33 AM
Three slain in Cheshire home
By: Amanda Falcone and Leslie Hutchison, Staff, 07/24/2007
CHESHIRE -- Residents of a quiet, close-knit section of town faced the unfathomable Monday when two men broke into a home on Sorghum Mill Drive and killed three of the four people inside, according to police.
The fourth person - Dr. William A. Petit Jr., a prominent doctor who specializes in diabetes treatment - was reported in serious but stable condition Monday night at St. Mary's Hospital in Waterbury.
Petit's wife, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, 48, was among those killed, according to officials at Cheshire Academy, where she worked as a nurse for 10 years.
The couple lived in the home with their two daughters, Hayley and Michaela. Police would not confirm if they were the other two victims, pending positive identification by the medical examiner's office. Police did say that two of the victims were female, but would not confirm the gender of the third body.
Police were unsure how the three people died. The robbers apparently lit the house on fire before fleeing, and authorities don't know yet if the victims died from the fire or if they were killed beforehand.
The neighborhood surrounding the home is a quiet, upscale community in the town's south end, one where residents look out for one another and feel safe enough not to lock their doors.
"Nothing like this ever goes on here," said Lynn Ryan, of 295 Sorghum Mill Drive, while watching the Cheshire police SWAT team file into the family's charred home.
Cheshire police said they received a 911 call about 9:30 a.m. from the Bank of America in Maplecroft Plaza about a suspicious withdrawal.
Preliminary information indicates that Hawke-Petit was driven to the bank by one of the robbers and withdrew money, they said. State Police Lt. J. Paul Vance would not be more specific but said the call prompted Cheshire police to send officers to both the bank and the house.
An officer noticed two men leaving the home, which by then was engulfed in flames. The men got into a vehicle. They drove west on Sorghum Mill Drive and rammed into the officer's cruiser.
The men continued westbound but stopped after crashing into two more police cruisers blocking the road. The men were apprehended immediately and brought to police headquarters.
Vance said he expects that the pair will be charged. He would not list specific charges, nor would he identify them Monday. The suspects are expected to appear in Meriden Superior Court this morning, he said.
Petit works as medical director for the Joslin Diabetes Center affiliate at the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain and has a private practice in Plainville. Laurence A. Tanner, president and chief executive officer of the hospital, confirmed that Petit was injured in the incident.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Petit as he attempts to recover from this unfathomable occurrence," Tanner said in a statement.
"We're all a little shell-shocked," added Philip Moore, director of communications for Cheshire Academy. Moore had just come from a meeting with the summer staff of the private school at which he told them Hawke-Petit died in Monday's incident.
Last year's senior class yearbook at the academy was dedicated to her.
"When you're feeling down or sick, the best medicine is a caring smile and warm reassurances that everything will be alright," the dedication read. "In other words the person you would want to see is Mrs. Petit. ...(She) makes the dark moments bearable and the bright moments joyful."
"She is exactly the one you would want taking care of kids at a boarding school situation. As a mom, she brought that with her to school," Moore said. "She was a substitute parent (for students) and was the first line of care for the faculty and families" who live on campus, he added.
Moore said the school counselor will be available today for Hawke-Petit's co-workers. "It's summer, folks are away," Moore said, so only about 30 percent of the faculty was on campus Monday.
Hayley Petit is a 2007 graduate of Miss Porter's School in Farmington. She was a three-sport athlete who raised money for multiple sclerosis, a charity effort that her sister had hoped to continue.
"They were a real nice family," one neighbor said. Police said at a press conference Monday afternoon that residents are safe.
"It's an isolated incident," said Cheshire Police Chief Michael Cruess, while commenting on how unusual such violent crimes are in the town.
But that word did little to ease the fears of Sorghum Mill Drive neighbors.
One resident had awakened to the smell of smoke billowing near her home. Her neighbor called 911 after hearing gunshots. Police told her to shut her windows and retreat to the basement.
"I don't know what would cause it to happen to this family," said Kim Ferraiolo, the Pe****' next-door neighbor. The robbers "had to be evil to do this. It's very, very upsetting."
Homes were surrounded by yellow police tape, and news reporters filed live stories from the scene. The smell of smoke remained through much of the day.
"It had to be deliberate," said Ryan, who said she saw smoke and the intensity of the fire.
Ryan said she was heartbroken about the incident and wondered about a motive. Police said the incident is still under investigation and they will follow all leads.
"This is scary stuff," Ryan said. "This is living, breathing and happening close to home."
WATCH VIDEO (http://www.mysunforums.com/content/RJ/content/myrj/video/chehomicide.wmv)
By: Amanda Falcone and Leslie Hutchison, Staff, 07/24/2007
CHESHIRE -- Residents of a quiet, close-knit section of town faced the unfathomable Monday when two men broke into a home on Sorghum Mill Drive and killed three of the four people inside, according to police.
The fourth person - Dr. William A. Petit Jr., a prominent doctor who specializes in diabetes treatment - was reported in serious but stable condition Monday night at St. Mary's Hospital in Waterbury.
Petit's wife, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, 48, was among those killed, according to officials at Cheshire Academy, where she worked as a nurse for 10 years.
The couple lived in the home with their two daughters, Hayley and Michaela. Police would not confirm if they were the other two victims, pending positive identification by the medical examiner's office. Police did say that two of the victims were female, but would not confirm the gender of the third body.
Police were unsure how the three people died. The robbers apparently lit the house on fire before fleeing, and authorities don't know yet if the victims died from the fire or if they were killed beforehand.
The neighborhood surrounding the home is a quiet, upscale community in the town's south end, one where residents look out for one another and feel safe enough not to lock their doors.
"Nothing like this ever goes on here," said Lynn Ryan, of 295 Sorghum Mill Drive, while watching the Cheshire police SWAT team file into the family's charred home.
Cheshire police said they received a 911 call about 9:30 a.m. from the Bank of America in Maplecroft Plaza about a suspicious withdrawal.
Preliminary information indicates that Hawke-Petit was driven to the bank by one of the robbers and withdrew money, they said. State Police Lt. J. Paul Vance would not be more specific but said the call prompted Cheshire police to send officers to both the bank and the house.
An officer noticed two men leaving the home, which by then was engulfed in flames. The men got into a vehicle. They drove west on Sorghum Mill Drive and rammed into the officer's cruiser.
The men continued westbound but stopped after crashing into two more police cruisers blocking the road. The men were apprehended immediately and brought to police headquarters.
Vance said he expects that the pair will be charged. He would not list specific charges, nor would he identify them Monday. The suspects are expected to appear in Meriden Superior Court this morning, he said.
Petit works as medical director for the Joslin Diabetes Center affiliate at the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain and has a private practice in Plainville. Laurence A. Tanner, president and chief executive officer of the hospital, confirmed that Petit was injured in the incident.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Petit as he attempts to recover from this unfathomable occurrence," Tanner said in a statement.
"We're all a little shell-shocked," added Philip Moore, director of communications for Cheshire Academy. Moore had just come from a meeting with the summer staff of the private school at which he told them Hawke-Petit died in Monday's incident.
Last year's senior class yearbook at the academy was dedicated to her.
"When you're feeling down or sick, the best medicine is a caring smile and warm reassurances that everything will be alright," the dedication read. "In other words the person you would want to see is Mrs. Petit. ...(She) makes the dark moments bearable and the bright moments joyful."
"She is exactly the one you would want taking care of kids at a boarding school situation. As a mom, she brought that with her to school," Moore said. "She was a substitute parent (for students) and was the first line of care for the faculty and families" who live on campus, he added.
Moore said the school counselor will be available today for Hawke-Petit's co-workers. "It's summer, folks are away," Moore said, so only about 30 percent of the faculty was on campus Monday.
Hayley Petit is a 2007 graduate of Miss Porter's School in Farmington. She was a three-sport athlete who raised money for multiple sclerosis, a charity effort that her sister had hoped to continue.
"They were a real nice family," one neighbor said. Police said at a press conference Monday afternoon that residents are safe.
"It's an isolated incident," said Cheshire Police Chief Michael Cruess, while commenting on how unusual such violent crimes are in the town.
But that word did little to ease the fears of Sorghum Mill Drive neighbors.
One resident had awakened to the smell of smoke billowing near her home. Her neighbor called 911 after hearing gunshots. Police told her to shut her windows and retreat to the basement.
"I don't know what would cause it to happen to this family," said Kim Ferraiolo, the Pe****' next-door neighbor. The robbers "had to be evil to do this. It's very, very upsetting."
Homes were surrounded by yellow police tape, and news reporters filed live stories from the scene. The smell of smoke remained through much of the day.
"It had to be deliberate," said Ryan, who said she saw smoke and the intensity of the fire.
Ryan said she was heartbroken about the incident and wondered about a motive. Police said the incident is still under investigation and they will follow all leads.
"This is scary stuff," Ryan said. "This is living, breathing and happening close to home."
WATCH VIDEO (http://www.mysunforums.com/content/RJ/content/myrj/video/chehomicide.wmv)