Petit Family Killer Steven Hayes Wants to Die, Psychologist Testifies in Penalty Phase

By: Barry Leibowitz
Topics: Daily Blotter

Steven Hayes (File, AP Photo/Conn. State Police)

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (CBS/AP) Steven Hayes, the Connecticut man convicted of a deadly 2007 home invasion, said he felt guilty and remorseful and wishes he could die as a result of the crime, a psychologist testified Wednesday in the punishment phase of the trial.

PICTURES: The Petit Family

Hayes faces a possible death penalty for killing Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters at their Cheshire home in July 2007.

Dr. Mark Cunningham said Hayes told him he has "lost all feelings" and is "completely numb." Hayes has attempted suicide in prison, and Cunningham said Hayes told him he still thinks of it but has no plans to kill himself, saying "just let the state do it."

Hayes also expressed concerns about spending the rest of his life in prison, said he hates the publicity from the case and does not want to put the relatives of his victims through it, Cunningham said. Hayes complained that some prison staff harassed him by saying he was going to die, turning a radio louder and making announcements at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. to disturb his sleep, Cunningham said.

A parole officer, John Viscomi, testified Wednesday that Hayes missed two required appointments for substance-abuse evaluations a month before the crime, but he didn't send him back to prison. Viscomi said he believed Hayes, a paroled burglar, was attending meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous during the same period.

A defense attorney asked if there was anything that would lead him to believe Hayes could commit the violent home invasion, Viscomi replied softly, "None."

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by tireslinger October 28, 2010 10:58 AM EDT: The guy feels remorse and wishes he could die, because of what he did???!! Uhhh...wah! Just try to imagine what Dr. Petit, must feel like, these days. Putting him to death, is much more a source of relief, that this one deserves. Normally, I'd say you want to die?...hang on, the day's coming. With this fool, I'd say that the longer they keep his case in appeals, the better. Having to deal with the day to day life of a prison, is a more apt; Reply to this comment


by Tomevans1962 October 28, 2010 10:52 AM EDT: The crimes that Steven Hayes has been convicted of- are of the most tragic and terrifying crimes ever perpetrated against an innocent family such as the Petits. This story, from it conception, has been a stomach turning story of a simple 'home invasion' that spiraled quickly out of control. I find Steven Hayes very worthy of the death penalty (even if he desires it himself) but spending the rest of his life in prison would be justification as well. Hayes and Komisarjevsky will go down in history as two bumbling career criminals that snuffed out the lives of an All-American family and couldn't even make it off the street without crashing into a police barricade. They raped, tortured, robbed, murdered, and then torched the Petit home- and for what? Really, for what?; Reply to this comment


by Farver4girls October 27, 2010 8:01 PM EDT: To me, Steven Hayes looks like Uncle Fester of the Adams Family. But that is an insult to Uncle Fester.; Reply to this comment