Home Invasion Suspects' Parole Questioned

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

(CBS/AP) 
The suspects entered the Petits' Cheshire home at about 3 a.m. Monday, planning to burglarize it, state police said. When they found the family at home, they beat Dr. Petit, then tied up his wife and daughters, police said.

Employees at a bank called police after one of the suspects forced Hawke-Petit to make a withdrawal around 9:30 a.m., officials said. 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. Their next court appearance was scheduled for Aug. 7.

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.

"We certainly don't get guys with a history of violence in prison," said Robert Pidgeon, chief executive officer of Community Solutions Inc., which runs the halfway house. "There's nobody that would have predicted this."

Prison officials said they reported each week to their parole officers and were employed full-time, a requirement of their release.

While both men have long criminal records, Farr said there was nothing to show that they were capable of such violent crimes.

"They were obviously individuals that had long and extensive records, but they weren't violent records," Farr said.

Komisarjevsky comes from a prominent Connecticut family. His grandfather was Theodore Komisarjevsky, a renowned Russian theater director and designer and his grandmother was Ernestine Stodelle, a former dancer, dance critic, author and studio director.

Komisarjevsky lived less than two miles from the Petits' home, but authorities have not said what they believe led Komisarjevsky and Hayes there.

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.

"I can't believe this happened," resident Urma Defrancis told CBS affiliate WFSB-TV. "I don't know how anyone could live like this. I can't believe this happened in Cheshire."

The station reports flowers adorn the Petit home that authorities have since boarded up, as investigators pick through the charred remains.

[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.