He said he had blacked out, and when he realized what happened called 911 immediately, Alexander said. Ken Peterson, a neighbor who has lived at the Meadows Apartments for about a year, said he had seen the couple with their baby just a few days before the shooting. Judge Shaves Four Years Off Simsbury Mans, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Welcome to the new courant.com: Whats changed, FAQs and more, Judge Shaves Four Years Off Simsbury Mans 50-Year Sentence For Murder, CT continues to prosecute some marijuana cases despite legalization, Madina Academy raises funds for Turkey, Syria earthquake relief, CT still borrowing to pay off debt, but some are pushing back, $122 million spending plan proposed for Simsbury, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. "I'll never get over this," said Day's mother. I was just going with the flow, Downey said during a hearing to suppress his statements. The body of Roberto Fonseca-Rivera, 44, of Boston, Massachusetts, was found behind the wheel of the Katsiroubas Produce truck he had . HARTFORD, Conn. A man charged with the 2014 murder of a Simsbury mother has pleaded guilty, court documents show. Patty Snediker stands for a portrait outside of her sister's Simsbury home on Oct. 23, 2019. A major police presence descended on the neighborhood. He told investigators he went into a frenzy after seeing Millan and at that moment, decided to attack her with a knife he had in his vehicle, according to the arrest application. The killing of Melissa Millan in 2014 shocked the town of Simsbury, Conn. An insurance executive and mother of two, Ms. Millan, 54, was stabbed while jogging and was found bloodied on a. At one point, officers advised residents in the neighborhood to remain inside their homes. The Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Linda Halligan's death a homicide from gunshot wounds. The judge allowed his statements to be admitted as evidence. Neighbors at The Meadows apartment complex where the couple lived for approximately 18 months remember a quiet couple whom they often saw spending time with their son. MURDER KILLER: William W. Leverett, now 30, formerly of Windsor Locks VICTIM: Melissa J. Millan, 54, of Simsbury, a senior vice president of MassMutual WHERE AND WHEN: Evening of Nov. 20, 2014. He said he wiped the blood off the boots he wore that night and continued to wear them for several months before donating them to a Goodwill, the document said. "We were stunned," the church's pastor, Michael Trazinski, said Monday. Many ancient pipes in CT aren't up to the task of draining storm water, yet officials just seem to shrug. Piri, who now lives in Naples, Florida, is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the Nov. 1, 2019 fatal shooting, Vermont State Police said. A man and woman found dead in a Simsbury home Sunday died in a murder-suicide, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. He then allegedly went back and got the knife a few days later and threw it out in a trash compactor. He cooperated as officials investigated his claims. Visit us online at www.foothillsmediagroup.com, or on facebook.com/foothillsmediagroup. Day leaves behind her parents Jimmy and Joanie (Anasoulis) Day, of Canton, her brother, Jim and her sister, Stephanie. Prats told Leverett that with his rejection, the case will go to a jury trial, which exposes him to a sentence ranging from 25 years to life if he is found guilty. Piri was arrested on Dec. 16 on a warrant, police said. We want to hear from you! Scot Allyn can be reached by e-mail at sallyn@registercitizen.com or by phone at 860-489-3121, Ext. He went on to tell investigators that he was embarrassed and scared and figured that if I just killed somebody it would make all that go away and I wouldnt have to explain myself., When he spotted Milan, a 54-year-old executive at Mass Mutual Life Insurance Co., running on the trail, he told investigators that he got mentally aroused, which then turned to anxiety and anger when he realized I cant have her and that she was way out of my league.. He did not go to jail but was placed on probation and the sex offender registry, the Courant said. RELATED: Suspect in 2014 Simsbury murder pleads not guilty. Prats said it is unclear when his case will go before a jury because trials have been placed on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. The case broke on Sept. 19, 2018, when Leverett, a registered sex offender working as an assistant manager at Fresh Market in Avon, went to the Simsbury Police Department to confess to the killing, arrest records show. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. The shootings happened at around. William Leverette, a convicted sex offender, walked into Simsbury CT police department and confessed to killing Melissa Millan in 2014. Where are Connecticut's most and least walkable areas? James Gill, the states chief medical examiner, on Tuesday said 57-year-old Linda Halligans death was ruled a homicide. Linda Halligan, 57, and 59-year-old Bernard Halligan, Jr., were found. We were just in shock and heartbroken, and we really couldnt believe it because we could never even imagine that he could do something like this., Mr. Trazinski added: After that, we said, Well, you know what you need to do. He said, Yeah, I know Ive got to turn myself in.. Two people have died. 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Anyone can read what you share. Leveretts arrest in 2018 brought closure to a case that had puzzled investigators for years. I was in shock. Investigators returned to the site of the killing on a number of occasions to look for evidence, once calling in FBI experts to help with the search. According to the affidavit, Mr. Leverett told the police that when he came home from the therapy group, nobody was there, not even the dog, and he was lonely.. After confessing to the crime, he led investigators to a bloody glove hidden behind a wall on his grandparents Simsbury property, records show. Id like to see him released alive, Simon said. Although a story that appeared in The Hartford Courant reported that Dominik's father was still active in his life, Wawrzyniak's mother, Mary, said Michael was in fact the boy's father. FOLLOW US ONTWITTER,FACEBOOK&INSTAGRAM, Example video title will go here for this video. SIMSBURY, CT Two people are dead following a domestic violence shooting in Simsbury on Sunday night, according to police. At the time of the killing, Downey told police he was sitting on the floor cleaning the rifle when he dropped the gun and it discharged, killing Mitchell. She was found stabbed to death while jogging on Iron Horse Boulevard on November 20, 2014. Simsbury police are investigating a shooting on Woodleigh Place in Weatogue. And more importantly, should tuition go toward supporting bars around the XL Center? Christopher Keating is a reporter for the Hartford Courant. In a statement provided to The Hartford Courant, relatives of Ms. Millan called her a loving mother, a devoted daughter, a witty and compassionate sister, a loyal friend, an intelligent, successful businesswoman and mentor to many.. SIMSBURY The deaths of a husband and wife on Sunday have been ruled a murder-suicide, officials said. At 8:15 p.m., police posted on Facebook that the suspect had been located and there is no threat to community. "I'm here to turn myself in for the murder on Iron Horse Boulevard almost 4 years ago," he allegedly told police, according to the arrest warrant affidavit. The two public defenders who represented Downey at his trial before Judge Stuart Schimelman were at his side again Tuesday, a bit grayer, but no less committed to standing up for their client. But Assistant States Attorney Joan Alexander argued that Downey, an expert marksman and gun enthusiast, indicated immediately after the shooting that he wanted to cooperate with police and never said he was too drunk to answer questions. Double-murder suicide in CT: PD/ Woman helps fuel restaurant biz/ Fire destroys garage/ $220K embezzlement case/ Bank access restricted. Leverett was on probation after a conviction of child sex assault in Colorado in 2011. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. On November 20, 2014, Simsbury police responded to a report of a female pedestrian lying in the roadway on Iron Horse Boulevard shortly after 8 p.m. Investigating officers eventually found 59-year-old Bernard Halligan Jr. dead in the garage of the home, Davis said. "I just turned up the television.". Email us atnewsteam@fox61.com. Officers were called to the scene late Sunday afternoon. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. SIMSBURY, Conn. (WTNH) - The Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the double shooting that left a husband and wife dead a murder-suicide. Nicholas Boulter. Officers received a call about a reported shooting at a. No additional information was available. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. "It's very sad. Tests showed it contained Milans DNA. She also cautioned him that with his rejection Tuesday the deal is permanently withdrawn. Leverett will be sentenced on May 3. After several days of conversations, Leverett was charged with her murder, police said. He is being held with bail set at $2 million. Trending Watch 24/7 NBC CT Weather Blog 70 Years of NBC Connecticut NBC CT's The Connection CT Live . Millan was found dead along Iron Horse Boulevard in Simsbury, about 11 miles northwest of. He had been held on a $2 million bond. "It was here until about 5 a.m.," she said. Leverett also led police to a barn where he threw a bloody glove. One, he said, had gotten stuck there. DNA from the glove was analyzed and Leverett was arrested. Police have not yet provided an update in the investigation as of Tuesday. The manner of death for her husband, 59-year-old Bernard Halligan Jr., was ruled a suicide. In the 911 call, Day was telling the dispatcher her boyfriend was holding a gun at her, threatening to shoot her and himself, according to a press release. HARTFORD A former Windsor Locks, Connecticut, man pleaded guilty this week to murdering a MassMutual executive who was jogging on a Simsbury trail in 2014. It was clear this was not an accidental shooting, Alexander said. At 8:15 p.m., police posted on Facebook that the suspect had. These types of incidents can happen anywhere.. Doug Stewart is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. "I was sitting in my living room, watching baseball on television, when I heard the voices," she said. Leverett said he heard Milan say: Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, before she went quiet, records show. Police officers were dispatched to the scene, and the dipatcher then heard several gunshots, the report said. But I never heard them fight.". Snediker's sister, Karen Graham, died in her home in June. Leverett returns to court on Oct. 9, according to the Courant. Leverett previously pleaded not guilty in connection with Millan's death in 2018. The crime went unsolved until last week, when a registered sex offender, William Leverett, walked into a church, Open Gate Ministries in Windsor Locks, and confessed. RELATED: Fatal double shooting in Simsbury ruled a murder-suicide In a press briefing just after 8:30 p.m., Boisvert said Faison and Underwood seemed to have died of gunshot wounds. Find out more about how we use your information in our privacy policy and cookie policy. Downey, his hair thinned and cut close, still towers over his lawyers. RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Police tailed Simsbury cold case murder suspect after confession. According to the affidavit, he allegedly claimed he just wanted to speak to Millan but then "'something happened' and the next thing he knew he had stabbed her in the chest with a knife he was carrying," the documents said. William Leverett will be sentenced to prison in May for the death of Melissa Millan. The killing of Melissa Millan in 2014 shocked the town of Simsbury, Conn. An insurance executive and mother of two, Ms. Millan, 54, was stabbed while jogging and was found bloodied on a boulevard. Simsbury apparent murder-suicide kills 2, police investigating, Serious crash closes CT stretch of I-95 South, state police say, Suspect in 2021 fatal shooting arrested, Hamden police say, Police tape blocks off the door of an apparent shooting in Canton. Police received the call at 5:22 p.m. and found an injured person,. In an interview with investigators, Leverett said he went to the trail that night looking for human contact after attending a meeting for sex offenders in Hartford. "Officers from Avon and Simsbury assembled to make contact with the occupants of the apartment," Boulter wrote. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Avon. When Leverett came home on the day of the murder, he went for a walk to find "human contact" and someone to talk to, according to the court documents. Yes, I do, your honor, Leverett responded. . The deadly domestic violence encounter happened shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday at the couples Woodleigh Place home in Weatogue. The man, William Winters Leverett, 27, of Windsor Locks, Conn., has been charged with murder. Milan pushed Leverett away, forcing the knife out of her chest as Leverett clutched the weapon. SIMSBURY A teen escaped a home where police say two people died in a domestic violence shooting on Sunday. Tara O'Neill was formerly a breaking news reporter with Hearst Connecticut Media Group. The Windsor Locks man charged with killing Simsbury mother Melissa Millan as she jogged down a busy trail in town in 2014 rejected a plea deal Tuesday that would have sent him to prison for 35 years. Authorities released a gut-wrenching video on Wednesday that shows a Connecticut man entering a police department lobby and confessing to a brutal murder. SIMSBURY, Conn. The shooting deaths of a man and woman in Simsbury on Sunday afternoon were ruled a murder-suicide. SIMSBURY -- A young Simsbury couple died Wednesday evening, the apparent victims of a murder-suicide. Mark Downey, convicted of a Simsbury murder in 1992, had four years shaved off his 50-year sentence Tuesday. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 3. Leverett told police he did not know Millan and had never seen her prior to the moment she jogged by him. Simsbury police confirmed Monday that a local man fatally shot his wife and then killed himself in their home Sunday evening. In the wake of a tragic murder-suicide in Simsbury last week, family and friends are mourning the loss of a young couple whose lives ended abruptly. Authorities continue to investigate what theyre classifying as a domestic violence shooting at a Weatogue home in Simsbury, Conn., on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021. Leverett saw Millan on the running path and said he was immediately attracted to her physical features, according to the arrest warrant application. Information about your device and internet connection, like your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Yahoo websites and apps. The calls were made through the CT Alert system. Simsbury couple died in murder-suicide, medical examiner rules, 2023 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC, Warrant: Bridgeport man broke into occupied Norwalk homes, Records: Survivor of crash that killed CT cop sues strip club, NWS: Storm will bring mix of rain, snow and ice to CT, Branford's Darbar India says 'thank you' with grand reopening, 'Suspicious' object sparks bomb scare at CT College, police say, Former East Haven town clerk suing over deleted email allegations, Westport, New Canaan join Fairfield's regional dispatch center, Wilton braces for cuts to $33.6M plan amid revenue uncertainty, Darien selectmen raise limit on cash gifts to $12,500, New Milford schools launch anonymous tip line for safety concerns, Geno Auriemma gives bleak assessment as UConn womens basketball looks to find footing in March: 'Poorly coached team. Her son with Wawrzyniak is staying with Day's parents. Simsbury police are investigating a shooting on Woodleigh Place in Weatogue. Leverett, 27, of Windsor Locks, who is a registered sex offender, was charged with one count of murder. He stated that he wanted to go for a walk along the path near Iron Horse Boulevard in hopes of finding someone to talk with, the affidavit continued. He has health problems, including a condition that thickens his blood and makes him more susceptible to strokes, and heart disease. He was employed at a pest control business in East Granby, Michael's Carpenter Ant and Termite Services, at the time of his death. Leverett claimed that he only wanted a chance to speak with her, it continued, but that something happened and the next thing he knew he had stabbed her in the chest with a knife he was carrying.. A man charged with the 2014 murder of a Simsbury mother has pleaded guilty, court documents show. We never would have expected this.". I guess they pretty much kept to themselves. "It's such a shame," she said. I never heard him cry.". He can be reached atdstewart@fox61.com. CT considers exonerating people convicted of witchcraft in 1600s, Connecticut could soon have a state food, pet and candy, CT-based company discloses potential foreign bribery violations. At the start of the trial, the defense asked the court to ignore Downeys statements to police that the shooting was accidental because they obviously conflicted with the forensic evidence. Beth Day and Michael Wawrzyniak, who lived at the Meadows Apartments, 71 Hopmeadow St., were found by Simsbury Police, shot to death in their home Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 8:25 p.m., moments after a dispatcher heard gunshots during a 911 call from Day. ', The Best Window Replacement Companies in CT, Guide to Legal Cannabis Dispensaries in CT, The Best Kitchen Remodeling Companies in CT, The Best Bathroom Remodeling Companies in CT. Where are Connecticut's most and least walkable areas? Last week, investigators found Mr. Leveretts handwritten letters from 2014 which referred to a serious crime, but not a murder specifically and the glove in the barn, which was entered as evidence, the authorities said. Justice needed to be done.". Sign up for the FOX61 newsletters:Morning Forecast, Morning Headlines, Evening Headlines. Downey, 61, has worked in a variety of jobs, taken advantage of every program the correction system offers, is remorseful, and has remained sober despite the availability of drugs and other substances in prison, his lawyers told Hartford Superior Court Judge Laura F. Baldini. William. Millan was a senior vice president at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. Millan was found dead along Iron Horse Boulevard on Nov. 20, 2014. Trazinski said he and two other parishioners went with Leverett -- a church member since March 2015 -- to the Simsbury Police Department to turn himself in. Although he left the police station that night, police said they monitored Leverett from the time he initially confessed until his arrest on September 23. Mr. Leverett said that Ms. Millan fell onto the road and that he thought he heard her say, Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, before he drove off in his car, according to the affidavit. "Perhaps it was a misinterpretation and they meant his grandfather," Wawrzyniak told Simsbury Patch. The former Windsor Locks man who rejected a plea bargain this week in the murder of a female jogger on a Simsbury Greenway path in 2014 won't . CT 06045 Phone: 800-237-3606 Email: service@ . A registered sex offender from Windsor Locks, CT - 27-year-old William Leverett is charged with murdering insurance executive Melissa Milan in Simsbury nearly 4 years ago. Day and Wawrzyniak knew each other from attending Canton High School together, according to Day's mother, who lives in Canton. Clad in a yellow jumpsuit, Leverett offered short answers to Prats questions about the deal, which Supervisory Assistant States Attorney Vicki Melchiorre said included 10 years of special parole after the 35-year prison term. He always looked happy and I never heard them argue. Leverett was ordered held on $2 million bond at his initial appearance Monday in Enfield Superior Court on a murder charge in the November 2014 death of 54-year-old Melissa Millan, a senior vice . Private immediate family plus Michaels close friends may call at the Vincent Funeral Home, 120 Albany Turnpike in Canton on Tuesday, Sept. 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial 11 a.m. at St. Patricks Church in Collinsville. SIMSBURY -- A young Simsbury couple died Wednesday evening, the apparent victims of a murder-suicide. He referred to Ms. Millan as way out of my league, the affidavit said, and became angry and went into a frenzy., Mr. Davis classified the incident as a domestic violence shooting. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/27/nyregion/confess-cold-case-murder-connecticut-jogger.html. Both lives were taken when Wawrzyniak pointed a gun at Day and pulled the trigger before turning the gun on himself at the couple's apartment at The Meadows complex in the Weatogue neighborhood of Simsbury.