Home Invasion Suspects' Parole Questioned

Conn. Official Says Suspects Did Not Have Violent Records Before Murdering Mother, 2 Daughters

(CBS/AP)  State officials are re-examining their policies after learning two convicted burglars out on parole are accused of killing three family members during a home invasion and arson.

Robert Farr, chairman of the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Parole, said the panel went by the rules, because the suspects didn't have a history of violent crimes.

"That's why this is sort of shocking — because it doesn't fit a normal mode," Farr said.

Farr acknowledged the board did not have as much information as it should have had about the men's records, such as the transcript from a 2002 sentencing. In that hearing, a Bristol Superior Court judge called Joshua Komisarjevsky "a cold, calculating predator."

Farr also said the board has not been receiving transcripts of sentencing hearings, even thought it is supposed to get them.

The board was also unaware that Komisarjevsky had worn night-vision goggles and used a knife to slash window screens in his prior burglaries.

"If we'd had it, we would have a little better picture of the individual," Farr Matt Dwyer of CBS radio affiliate WTIC-AM. "I'm not suggesting these would have made any big difference. Maybe we would have kept them in a little longer, but at some point these guys were both going to get out."

Komisarjevsky, 26, of Cheshire, and Steven Hayes, 44, of Winsted, were arraigned Tuesday on charges of assault, sexual assault, kidnapping, burglary, robbery, arson, larceny and risk of injury to children. Bond was set at $15 million each. They are being held in separate facilities, and apart from other inmates.

The state medical examiner confirmed that Jennifer Hawke-Petit, 48, was strangled and that her daughters, 17-year-old Hayley and 11-year-old Michaela, died of smoke inhalation. The deaths were ruled homicides.

The girls' father, Dr. William Petit Jr., a prominent endocrinologist, was beaten and bound in the basement but managed to escape. He remained in serious but stable condition on Wednesday.

"He's doing OK physically. Emotionally he is devastated and still worried about others," said Petit's pastor, the Rev. Stephen Volpe.

Investigators were still uncertain why Komisarjevsky and Hayes chose the Petit family. They know the pair followed Hawke-Petit and Michaela home from grocery shopping Sunday night, then went to a Wal-Mart to purchase a rope and an air rifle, and waited in their car. But was there some connection with the Petits?

Law enforcement sources told the Hartford Courant that while on parole, Hayes was working for a landscaping company. Police were trying to learn whether that company had done work for the Petits.

Meanwhile, prosecutor Michael Dearington said he had not yet decided whether to pursue the death penalty.

"I know the public consensus is they should be fried tomorrow," he said.

Dearington has only pursued the death penalty in one case, for the murders of a mother and two young children in 2000. The jury did not sentence the killer to death.

He would have ample grounds in this case: Connecticut law allows the death penalty for murder while committing first-degree sexual assault, murder during a kidnapping, murder of two or more people at the same time, and murder of someone under age 16, as well as in three other instances.

"There's five ways you can charge capital felony in this case," the state's most experienced and successful prosecutor in death penalty cases, Waterbury State's Attorney John A. Connelly, told the Waterbury Republican-American

[yoopermom]

I think the death penalty would be too good for these monsters. All that will happen if they get the death penalty is they will live in solitude for 10 %u2013 20 years while they waste tax dollars appealing.

If they are in with the general population of a prison they will be suffering abuse every day at the hands of inmates that despise people that rape and kill children. Let the other prisoners take care of these monsters. It will be a lot more painful and quicker than waiting for them to be humanely disposed of.

[avadiva]

Instead of testing on innocent animals, why don't we test on twisted sick individuals like these two child rapers/murders. Perform vivisection on them!

[mcstanley]

Why play around with the "electric chair". These two have had their fun now it's time to pay the piper.

Why continue to waste taxpayers money. Predators cannot be reformed unless they chose to and most of them have made their beds. So let them lie in it .... via a wheelchair.

[boston1954]

Put them out in Death Valley.
Posted by retmilspouse


No I disagree. I might like to see the Grand Canyon one day and the *** thing would be full to the top...........

[mapas-2009]

This *** violated Parole, they cowardly murder this family. ? Question...Why the Tax payers will have to pay for their food, Water and Ceiling... and their defense... ?
They should be executed and burned a life !!!
These SOBS do't belong to society.

[gunownerdan]

It is definitely best for everyone when violent criminals are stopped by their intended victims.
Self Defense!
a-human-right.com

[donkeyhouse]

The point is that if the justice system wasn't such a sham, this wouldn't happen. These people are paroled time and time again because people think these animals can be rehabilitated. These guys had a rap sheet 3 miles long and they got out.

And to the moron that loves the UK and their gun laws so much, I can't wait till your neighbors to the east decide they need more Arab lands and you have no way to defend yourselves. I don't think we are going to bale your sorry nation out for the 3rd time.

[wheelsup1]

The police should have shot them as they chased them down the street. They hit a patrol car (attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, etc.)draw a bead on them and end our misery of them!!!!!

[red164]

Posted by DonkeyHouse at 01:42 PM : Jul 26, 2007

The blame lays at the feet of these two criminals maybe the system failed is some way but is that an excuse for this type for animalist behavior. Why is it when people do something this sickening that some people turn it into a political statement? You cannot find one rational human being on the planet that is not saddened and outraged over what these two psychos did.

[slim1h2o]

Let's see mate, where'd the criminals go to get their air rifle? Wal-Mart?

Could they have done the same thing in the UK? No? I rest my case.

Posted by rudy654 at 12:30 PM : Jul 26, 2007

Ahem,.....I think a baseball bat and fire with gasoline was used in this case, the air rifle was a prop. Ban bats and fire? Or gas?

[donkeyhouse]

This is what you get when you leave decisions up to bleeding hearts. These scum bags should have never gotten out of jail and they should be executedn immediately. I'm sick of kids getting molested and innocent people being killed because a bunch of tree huggers think they can be "rehabilitated". Animals belong in cages.

[ediemeyers]

I don't know why Connecticut authorities are surpised by such an event (not normal mode). Since when is the criminal mind normal?

Its a critical mistake for anyone to think they can predict how criminals or anyone will conduct themselves. Our government seems to typecast people into categories and then predict what the "type" of person will do. That's why things are out of control in the first place.

[mediabrat60]

Thanks rushman71!

[rudy654-2009]

"Keep your guns American and blow the b a s t a r d s away if they step over your doorway."
Posted by drinuk at 11:58 AM : Jul 26, 2007

Cor blimey! From the UK and all, and such wisdom from the likes of you.

Let's see mate, where'd the criminals go to get their air rifle? Wal-Mart?

Could they have done the same thing in the UK? No? I rest my case.

[gunownerdan]

"Hey GunownerDan, try living in the UK, 5yrs in the pokey for even possessing a gun, we are locking people up who harm intruders, can you believe that?"
Posted by drinuk

That makes me sick that your government doesn't trust its citizens with guns or even pocket knives, but you are forced to trust them with their big machine guns.
When only police can have guns, it's called a police state.
Good luck over there!

[rushman71]

mediabrat60: That was a good point that you just brought up!!! Well said!!!

[mediabrat60]

It's bothersome that people scream for the death penalty in such violent circumstances as this!!
Let me educate you;

First, they are going to get a lengthy trial regardless of the outcome, so that is enough waste of taxpayers money right there.

Second, If they get the death penalty, they get the protection of death row, meals and restful sleep, getting appeal after appeal for YEARS. Not to mention the co-miserating company of other slimy prison mates of the same calibur.
Too much of a burden on the family to have to see this happen.

Not to mention, more taxpayers money.

Thirdly, and most importantly, if they get life in prison, they get put in the general population of the federal prison where, within the first week they will get raped repeatedly and beat on occasion, while the guards turn their back (because of their awful crimes) and if they make it thru that without killing themselves, they will endure much of the same for weeks to come until they either kill themselves out of shame or be killed and make it look like suicide.

No more taxpayer money being wasted!

I know this for a fact because I worked in the prison system.

So PLEASE, Please, pray for life in prison. Their end will come sooner and with much more pain and suffering!!

[rushman71]

CRYSTAlblue3: Bwahahahaha!!! OOOhhh, what cruel intentions you have given my mind!!! Bwahahahaha!!!

[missingamerica]

Connecticut's on a roll, aren't they?

Paroling people without knowing anything about them, official legitimization of illegal aliens in New Haven, Joe Lieberman - the Independent who is dependent upon ideology rather than logic...

I don't know what they are burning in the state of New York, but I'm glad I'm not downwind from it.

[drinuk]

Put them away for life????? WRONG !!!!!
Don't waste another dime on this scum of society, not one more meal, no more fresh water, NOTHING!
Kill 'Em Now.