Cheshire, Connecticut, home invasion murders
The Cheshire, Connecticut, home invasion murders were on July 23, 2007. A mother and her two daughters were murdered during a home invasion in Cheshire, Connecticut.[1] The Hartford Courant called the case "possibly the most widely publicized crime in the state's history".[2] In 2010, Steven Hayes was convicted of the murders and sentenced to death. His accomplice, Joshua Komisarjevsky, was found guilty on October 13, 2011, and sentenced to death on January 27, 2013.[3]
| Cheshire, Connecticut, home invasion murders | |
|---|---|
 The location of Cheshire within Connecticut | |
| Location | Cheshire, Connecticut |
| Date | July 23, 2007 |
| Target | Petit family |
Attack type | Home invasion, arson, murder |
| Weapons | Baseball bat, gun, gasoline |
| Deaths | 3 |
Injured | 1 |
| Perpetrators | Steven Hayes Joshua Komisarjevsky |
Victims change
- Jennifer Hawke-Petit, age 48, was a nurse and co-director of the health center at Cheshire Academy, a private boarding school. She met her husband, William Petit, in 1985 at Children's Hospital when he was a third-year medical student at the University of Pittsburgh and she was a new nurse.[4]
- Hayley Petit, age 17, had just graduated from Miss Porter's School and was scheduled to attend Dartmouth College.[5]
- Michaela Petit, age 11, attended the Chase Collegiate School before her death.[6]
- William Petit, the only survivor of the home invasion, is an endocrinologist in Cheshire. He survived when he escaped to a neighbor's house, even though he had injuries.[7][8] He has not returned to his medical practice since the murders, stating his desire to be active in the foundations set up to honor the memory of his deceased family.[9]
Perpetrators change
Steven J. Hayes | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 30, 1963 |
| Criminal status | Convicted on 16 counts; sentenced to death on six counts of capital felony |
| Children | A son and a daughter |
| Conviction(s) | Capital felony, murder, sexual assault |
| Criminal penalty | Six consecutive death sentences plus 106 years |
Joshua A. Komisarjevsky | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 10, 1980 |
| Criminal status | Convicted of 17 out of 17 charges, including 6 Capital Felonies. |
| Conviction(s) | Capital felony, sexual assault, murder, kidnapping, and arson. |
| Criminal penalty | Death sentence |
Steven J. Hayes (born May 30, 1963, in Homestead, Florida)[8] was found guilty on 16 out of 17 counts related to the home invasion murders on October 5, 2010.[10] On November 8, 2010, the jury returned with a recommendation for Hayes to be killed by the State.[11] He was formally sentenced to death by Superior Court Judge Jon C. Blue on December 2, 2010.[12]
Hayes is an inmate of the Connecticut Department of Correction. His criminal history shows him sentenced for his first offense at the age of 16.[8] He is housed in the Northern Correctional Institution[13] in Somers.
Joshua A. Komisarjevsky (born August 10, 1980) was Hayes' accomplice in the home invasion and murder of William Petit's wife and two daughters. He was born in 1980 and adopted[14] by the son of playwright Theodore Komisarjevsky. Komisarjevsky was kept at the Walker Reception Center[15] rather than pay a $15 million bond.[16] His trial began September 19, 2011, and on October 13, 2011, he was convicted on all 17 counts.[17] On December 9, 2011, the jury recommended the death penalty.[18] On January 27, 2012 Judge Jon Blue sentenced Komisarjevsky to death by lethal injection.[3]
References change
- ↑ Gardner, David. "'Things got out of control': Chilling confession of Connecticut massacre 'killer'." The Daily Mail. September 23, 2010. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
- ↑ Kauffman, Matthew. "Fair Trial Seen Likely For Other Cheshire Defendant Archived 2012-07-23 at Archive.today." Hartford Courant. November 9, 2010. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Death sentence in Connecticut home invasion, CNN, January 27, 2012
- ↑ "Man gets death in triple-killing home invasion". Archived from the original on 2012-01-11. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
- ↑ Wool, Hillary. "Petit remembered as an athlete, role model Archived 2008-01-07 at the Wayback Machine." The Dartmouth. Friday July 27, 2007. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
- ↑ "School Head Runs 'Miles for Michaela'." Good Morning America. November 5, 2007. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
- ↑ Steven Hayes found guilty of kidnap, rape and murder
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Cowan, Alison Leigh and Christine Stuart. "Suspect in Connecticut Killings Left Long Trail of Lawbreaking." The New York Times. August 4, 2007. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
- ↑ Otis, Ginger Adams (July 13, 2008). "Ghost of a House: Grieving dad razes site of triple slay'". New York Post.
- ↑ Gardner, David. "'Things got out of control': Chilling confession of Connecticut massacre 'killer'." The Daily Mail. September 23, 2010. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
- ↑ Steven Hayes Sentenced to Death for the Deadly Conn. Home Invasion
- ↑ Conn. man condemned to die for fatal home invasion
- ↑ "Hayes, Steven Joseph." Connecticut Department of Correction. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
- ↑ Path to Parole Becomes Issue in Murder Case
- ↑ "Komisarjevsky, Joshua A." Connecticut Department of Correction. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
- ↑ Two arrests announced in Cheshire arson/homicide, Connecticut Department of Public Safety, July 24, 2007
- ↑ Griffin, Alaine (September 19, 2011). "Tense Events Detailed As Second Cheshire Home Invasion Case Begins". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on July 21, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
- ↑ "Jury recommends death in Connecticut home invasion case". CNN. December 9, 2011. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2012.