CHESHIRE, Conn., July 25, 2007
Ghastly Details In Conn. Home Invasion
Papers Report Mother, Two Daughters Raped Before Their Deaths
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Play CBS Video Video Home Invasion Murder Authorities in Connecticut believe two paroled convicts in custody are to blame for a violent home invasion that turned deadly. Bianca Solorzano reports.
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The SUV that authorities say was used by the two suspects in an attempt to get away, with a damaged police cruiser in the background, July 23, 2007. (AP)
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Firemen investigate a burned area of the home of Dr. William Petit in Cheshire, Conn., on July 23, 2007. (AP)
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Suspects Joshua Komisarjevky, left, and Steven Hayes, July 24, 2007. (CBS/AP)
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Interactive Crime Beat Statistics and specifics on crime in America.
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Photo Essay Home Invasion Horror Connecticut family terrorized by intruders, wife, two daughters killed, husband wounded.
Employees at a bank called police after one of the suspects forced Hawke-Petit to make a $15,000 withdrawal around 9:30 a.m., officials said. The employees balked, and Hawke-Petit told them her family was being held hostage, reports the Courant. One of the men was waiting for her outside the bank.
On the way back to the house, he bought a container of gasoline, according to the Republican-American.
The men were caught in the family's car after ramming several police cruisers as they fled the burning home, authorities said.
Hawke-Petit and her daughters were found dead inside. Dr. Petit escaped the blaze and told police what happened.
The suspects did not enter pleas Tuesday, and their public defenders declined comment. Bail was set at $15 million apiece. Their next court appearance was scheduled for Aug. 7.
Family members became distraught during the hearing, and had to be escorted from the courtroom. As Hayes was led out, someone in the back exclaimed, "Scumbag!"
Hayes and Komisarjevsky each have more than 20 prior burglaries on their records. At the time of the killings, both were free on parole after serving prison time for burglary convictions in 2003, Bail Commissioner Garcia Harris said. They spent time last year in the same halfway house in Hartford before being paroled in the spring.
Prison officials said they reported each week to their parole officers and were employed full-time, a requirement of their release.
Farr said the parole board's staff scoured its files Tuesday to see if any mistakes were made and couldn't find any obvious problems.
"But three people died," Farr said. "We're not going to say, 'Those things happen.' We've got to see if there is anything we can do that would reduce the likelihood of this happening in the future."
In Connecticut, prisoners may be released from confinement and receive parole after serving more than half of their sentences.
Authorities have not said what they believe led Komisarjevsky and Hayes to the Petits' home.
The family issued a statement Tuesday through the hospital where the doctor was being treated.
"Our precious family members have been the victims of horrible, senseless, violent assaults. We are understandably in shock and overwhelmed with sadness as we attempt to gather together to support one another and recognize these wonderful, giving beautiful individuals, who have been so cruelly taken from us," the statement said.
Petit, president of the Hartford County Medical Association, is a specialist in diabetes and endocrinology and is the medical director of the Joslin Diabetes Center Affiliate at The Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain. Hawke-Petit, 48, was a nurse and co-director of the health center at Cheshire Academy, a private boarding school.
The attack stunned Cheshire, an upper-middle class community of 29,000 just east of Waterbury and about 15 miles north of New Haven.
Four bouquets of flowers and a single rose were left at the Pettit home Tuesday, reports WFSB.
Komisarjevsky lived less than two miles from the Petits' home, with his parents and a 5-year-old daughter. His family also released a statement Tuesday.
"This is an absolute tragedy. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the Petit family (and all those whose lives they touched). We cannot understand what would have made something like this happen. There is nothing else we can say at this time," the statement said.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 226 Commentshappen when our laws allow freaks to roam free (after already committing enough crimes to prove they are not fit to be free)The Judicial Branch is blind. If this had happened to a State Representative, a Judge, or anyone in high office, laws would be changed ASAP. Protect yourselves people. Does this not wake you up and show you we are on our own when it comes to protecting ourselves? With todays unemployment horrors & little help for those who are struggling - we will sadly see more robberies, burglaries and murders. We are seeing the beginnings of a very ugly and horrible era. I pray that Im wrong but I doubt it, unless huge changes comes about. To the families and friends: I pray Gods peace will surround you and that the rest of your lives will be greatly blessed.
To the monsters who did this: I hope someone in prison puts you both out of your misery. That would save taxpayers dollars and make who ever committed this justice, a hero.
NO, NO, NO! That is a totally cruel and sick thing to assert. Why would you even consider that an obviously caring physician, with such a record of giving back to his community would subject his wife, much let his innocent daughters to repeated sexual assaults before having them killed? That's outrageous!
Also, we're not talking about a few minor flesh wounds that he received, but potentially brain damaging blows that could easily have killed him or at least severely disabled him.
You are evil minded for even THINKING such a thing, much less, posting it.
This poor guy, besides dealing with the loss of his beloved family, is left to agonize over the trauma of their last hours. Bless him!
i'll comtinue on another space.
senseless crime I feared the worst. What were they doing there for so many hours? Oh my God!
Raping!! Those poor little young girls. I cry out in pain for them. My deepest sympathy to the father and family members.
As far as those two animals from hell....
while they await their dealth chamber, I pray they get the same of what they did and worst.
They deserve no mercy.
Not only did the excon have time to stop for gas and start the fire, he would have had to tie Ms. Petit up and kill her. Either the police took forever or the killers had a good plan.
They killed all those women with their bare hands. If you tie children down to a bed after repeatingly raping them and pour gasoline around them, you are not expecting them to die of smoke inhalation. You are expecting them to burn to death. And die screaming...Bstards all...
What I'd like to know is why 2 excons with that many convictions for robbery already were doing out on parole in the first place?
And if bank officials alerted the police, why did it take them so long to respond that the excon had time to stop for gas and get back and start a fire????
Senator Obama, In light of the recent home invasion and the rape and murder of that whole family do you still feel that law is a good idea?
It's a yes or no Question Senator, please, no Bull Shi! smoke and mirror answer.
Senator Obama, In light of the recent home invasion and the rape and murder of that whole family do you still feel that law is a good idea?
It's a yes or no Question Senator, please, no Bull Shi! smoke and mirror answer.
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