Griffin, who has multiple sclerosis and was brought into court in a wheelchair, closed her eyes, bit her lower lip and shook her head slightly as each of the 12 jurors affirmed their verdicts before a crowded courtroom. Police there confirmed Janet G. was Griffin, and found multiple domestic reports involving both her and Fruean. The killer was heard asking her accomplice to bring her a knife while Patricia pleaded for her life. - New York Lynn [Steller] was a wonderful mother, too, Coccia said, but she didnt have a chance to become a grandmother., WOMAN SPARED DEATH SENTENCE IN MIDDLETOWN, 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, WOMAN SPARED DEATH SENTENCE IN MIDDLETOWN DOUBLE MURDER, CT man found guilty of narcotics, firearm offenses, Hartford Civilian Police Review Board inspector general resigns, With old Ames HQ in Rocky Hill demolished, state kicks in nearly $1 million for multi-use development, Parkinsons symptoms eased by non-surgical procedure, study shows, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. She claimed her hand was cut while she was unscrewing a light bulb. Less than a year after the woman disappeared, a bullet-riddled skull attached to three vertebrae was found next to a Glenbrook business where the father of the woman's two children worked.It wasn't until 2012 that DNA testing confirmed the skull belonged to Joseph. King was shot three times, stabbed several times and struck in the head with a glass jar. In 1970, a New Canaan boy became the subject of a nation-wide search after his mother, sister, brother and grandmother were found killed. Your email address will not be published. "I am sorry I lied. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Middletown may be as high as 1 in 12 in the central neighborhoods, or as low as 1 in 54 in the southeast part of the city. Someone was strangling them with their bras. Middletown police said Griffin was only after Steller and that King was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Kelly Silk was just 32-years-old but had already suffered a long history of mental illness. The trial and subsequent hanging of Haddam's own Emil Schutte for the murders of the Ball family of Haddam caused a sensation in Connecticut during the 1920s. fact that a town resident has been charged in the killings." Where can I park at the Police Department. Griffin, under stress from the questioning, put her head down on the table in the interrogation room. Allen, Janet Leonard, 82 of Middletown, CT, beloved wife of Robert H. Allen, "Bob" passed away August 29, 2020 while residing at Middlesex Health Care's Dementia Wing, under Hospice Care in. She cant hurt anyone else, Coccia said. James Langley died in December 2006 of burns after gasoline on his clothes caught on fire. Gaylordsville then took his own life in Dover, N.Y., as Twenty-five years One of Griffins attorneys, Public Defender James McKay, said he accepted and understood the jurors decision. MIDDLETOWN A double murder in an idyllic planned community on the outskirts of the city nearly 26 years ago will catapult Middletown onto the national stage this week. She is a 49-year-old woman, and her life didnt begin that day.. 9 UConn womens basketball vs. Georgetown: Time, TV and what you need to know, NY man who killed and skinned Ridgefield dogs was twice told they were not coyotes, warrant shows, CT education board grants initial approval for Middletown charter school, Former mayor, Mormon bishop gets prison for child sex abuse, The Best Private High Schools Near Hartford, Guide to Legal Cannabis Dispensaries in CT, The Best Window Replacement Companies in CT. the house onfire. Richard Crafts was a commercial pilot who was living a comfortable Vita Tax Preparation Assistance Program Available, Middletown Health Department Accepting Applications For Public Health Block Grants, Volunteer for the Middletown Medical Reserve Corp, Paws Study : Study Break and Writing Help with Pawsitive Therapy, Common Council - special meeting - Rt 9 Design Workshop, Committee Concerning People with Disabilities. Willimantic. The missing . Ronald King was Patricia Lynn Stellers nephew, and the two shared a residence in Middletown, Connecticut. Instead, according to trial testimony, she was confronted by Richard Roszkowski, a former neighbor, who forced her at gunpoint to drive him, with Kylie in the car, to a boarding house on Seaview Avenue. Now retired Middletown police Detective Robert Barone reviews his case files pertaining to the November 1993 double murder of Patricia Lynn Steller and her nephew Ronald King. Under that law, the jury could invoke the death penalty only if it found proof of an aggravating factor and the existance of no mitigating factors. Liston presented more than 100 pieces of circumstantial evidence during the four- week trial, including a telephone answering machine cassette that recorded the slayings. Suspected serial killer identified. The cause of death was determined to be stab wounds, and from the intensity of the murder, the police suspected it to be a crime of passion. It was higher than in 24.4% U.S. cities. Griffin made a mistake thinking a small-caliber pistol would kill them, according to retired police detective and former states attorney investigator Robert Barone, who worked with now retired officers Rick Sienna, Wayne Linares, Dave Visconti and Noel Perez to solve the case. William Bigaud Jr., 37, was taken into. 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In what is probably one of the states largest mass murders, Robert Segee started a fire within the confines of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which had up to 8,700 people in attendance. In August 2010, Omar Thornton was caught stealing beer from the beer distribution company for which he worked. During the incident Griffins blood was left on Kings clothing, inside the home and in a rental car. Right before the sentencing, he said "I am not prepared. Spurned lover Janet Griffin was convicted in 1999 of killing Stellar, the lover of her former girlfriend who lived in the Wesleyan Hills community, and King. Easily the worst mass murder in Connecticut history, Sandy Hook will forever be remembered as one of our nations greatest tragedies. Coccia had left Vermont to live with Steller in Middletown three months before. ion demi permanent hair color with 20 volume developer; 1970s long island bars Fruean was found guilty by a jury of first-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. McKay and Kelly argued that the tape was a largely inaudible and partial recording that could not be authenticated. "Read more. Despite a lack of physical evidence, the prosecution convinced Though small and seemingly inconsequential to the rest of the union, Connecticut has had some of the most publicized murders in the country. Komisarjevsky sexually assaulted Michaela. Besides the tape, police investigators seized three bloody kitchen knives from the kitchen. Read More: Brook Baker Murder: Where is Brian Jones Now? Griffin was the head housekeeper at a ski resort condominium called The Woods in Killington at the time of her arrest. Police never determined how that happened. The two, who lived and commuted to work together at Wesleyan University, waited for Steller to return from work, shot her three times and King once, court documents said. In the early hours of July 22, 1977, at around 4:15 am, neighbors awoke to the smell of smoke coming from . The answering machine recording proved to be a massive breakthrough in the case as it recorded the voices of both the killer and her accomplice. An actor portrays him in re-enactment scenes. An investigation revealed that Griffin was Coccias ex-girlfriend who became angry when she left her for Steller and moved in with her. timekeeper granville county schools; chloe turner instagram; where do jess and gabriel live in florida; case.Read more. She was still alive when Mr. Rice found her, but she diedwith out regaining consciousness four hours later. Haven for the killing of 24-year-old Annie Le. We all worked collectively and with some difficult challenges., We got a little bit of information and we kept building after that: the name Janet on a tape to a Janet G. in a book to the physical evidence at the scene we collected, it perfectly tied those two individuals to the crime, Siena said. 2022-06-07 . Dr. Petit was severely beaten, but and his wife and two daughters were killed. Coccia returned home from work around 5:30 p.m. and found both victims dead. Griffin, 72, is serving a life sentence in Niantic prison. Do you, This was definitely in IL because we are friends with, Hi. He was not charged in connection with Kings death. In 1987 Elizabeth Heath went Middletown police detectives got a big break in the case of the killings of Patricia Lynn Steller and her nephew Ronald King, as their slayings were recorded on Stellers answering machine. Instead, Griffin was sentenced to life without parole on two counts of murder and capital felony in the deaths of Patricia Lynn Steller, 43, and Ronald King, 26. When he entered the home, he discovered that a homeless man was already living there, but instead of asking him ever so politely to leave, he took an ax and smashed in his face. Middletown police detectives got a big break in the case of the killings of Patricia Lynn Steller and her nephew Ronald King, as their slayings were recorded on Steller's answering machine. Name: Date: Victims: Location : A: Lorne Joe ACQUIN: July 22, 1977: 9: Connecticut, USA: Lazale Delane ASHBY: 2002 / 2003: 2: Connecticut, USA : B: Matthew BECK March . Coccia discovered the bodies of her lover, Steller, and Stellers nephew, King, lying in pools of blood in the Wesleyan Hills home that the three shared. Outside court, Coccia hugged family members and struggled to keep her composure. View the voter registration of Janet L Crosetti-Jackson (age 57) from Middletown, Connecticut. This just shows theres still some decent people left in the world and theres 12 of them right in there, Van Der Kar said, pointing into the courtroom. Prosecutors said the killing was ordered by party co-founder Bobby Seale, whose 1970 trial in New Haven became a cause celebre for the radical left. View Original Notice - Obituary for . Katie Hobbs delivers her State of the State address at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix, Jan. 9, 2023. King was shot three times and stabbed six times in the chest and abdomen. When asked why he did it, he said that voices told him to kill and eat a helpless homeless man. Darien high school student Alex Kelly was accused of sexually assaulting, kidnapping and threatening two high school girls, one from Stamford and one from Darien, four days apart in February 1986 after giving them rides home from parties.Kelly fled to Europe before his rape trial and lived a jet-set life for years before surrendering.Read more. and a country fair each fall, people are not only in shock over the Despite having a deep cut on her palm, Griffin denied killing Steller and King and claimed that she cut her hand while changing a light bulb. Welcome to the City of Middletowns website! Griffin is being held at the York Correctional Institution, the states high-security prison for women in East Lyme. Were very grateful to the jury. Additionally, Patricia was even heard calling her attacker Janet on the recording. MIDDLETOWN A local man has been sentenced to 57 years in prison for the murder of a Hartford teacher at her home in Middletown four years ago, state officials said. However, looks can be deceiving, and like all states, the Constitution State has a darker side. Kennedy, was arrested and charged with Moxley's murder. Janet was ultimately convicted of two counts of murder in addition to a single count of a capital felony. She wasnt satisfied. police closed in. It did not take long for the police to find out who Janet was, as while interviewing Gina Coccia, they found out that she had previously dated someone called Janet Griffin. The story is so gruesome, HBO made a film. . missing in Newtown. lover. In 2015, Myers was convicted of third-degree strangulation in New Haven and was given a suspended sentence and probation, records show. From the outside, Connecticut may seem like a charming little state with scenic docks, numerous museums centered around the states rich history and, of course, Yale University. In 2010, Laura Mancini, 54, a hairdresser at the Adam Broderick Salon and Spa in body after they were contacted by concerned co-workers. Prosecutors said Griffin of Rutland was a jilted lover motivated by revenge when she and an accomplice trapped Patricia Lynn Steller, 43, and Stellers nephew, Ronald H. King, 26, in their Middletown home Nov. 1, 1993. 9 UConn womens basketball vs. Georgetown: Time, TV and what you need to know, NY man who killed and skinned Ridgefield dogs was twice told they were not coyotes, warrant shows, CT education board grants initial approval for Middletown charter school, Former mayor, Mormon bishop gets prison for child sex abuse, The Best Private High Schools Near Hartford, Guide to Legal Cannabis Dispensaries in CT, The Best Window Replacement Companies in CT. Lets take a closer look at the details and find out where the perpetrator is at present, shall we? Right Now. Furthermore, while investigating the crime scene, the police checked the answering machine and found that parts of the homicide were surprisingly recorded on tape. In my heart I feel that the death penalty itself would have done nothing in the area of bringing Ron and Lynn back, said Coccia, who discovered the bodies of Steller and King on Nov. 1, 1993, in the kitchen of the Wesleyan Hills home the three shared. However, when Gina went over to Patricias house, she was welcomed by the horrifying sight of the bodies of her loved ones lying on the kitchen floor. MIDDLETOWN, CT A Middletown double murder case that was solved with the help of an answering machine recording will be featured on crime documentary series "Diabolical" on Investigation Discovery. Had jurors been applying the new law, Smola said, the panel might still be deliberating. In the last 5 years Guilford has seen decline of violent crime and decline of property crime. To put that in perspective, the number of homicides we're talking about is 3 so for this year. He used a woodchipper to destroy the evidence, and the case eventually became the first in Connecticut in which a murderer was convicted despite there being no body as evidence. Myers was sentenced Friday by Superior Court Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Middletown, the state Division of Criminal Justice said in a news release. In 1986, Hellen Crafts, a flight attendant, was murdered by her husband, Richard Crafts, an airline pilot. On Oct. 30 1975, 15-year-old Martha Moxley's body was found under a Nine days after the killing, police arrested Bernard Williams (pictured left), a 29-year-old drifter, ex-convict and drug addict from North Carolina. McKay said he would have to evaluate the trial transcripts before deciding whether there were grounds for appeal. We look forward to being able to show [the jury] who Janet Griffin is in the days to come, McKay said. In his confession, he admitted to beating all of his victims with a lug, a wrench and a tire iron. In 1969, "10-year-old Mary K. Mount disappeared from her New Canaan neighborhood, sparking a massive manhunt throughout Fairfield County that ended tragically in Wilton. Its sad this is what people do in the world. Gordon Fruean was also convicted for his involvement and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Very thin, very small she used him because she probably felt the only way to get into the house was through a dog door, Barone said. Another shopper who parked beside Javery found her as she bled to death. am sorry I ruined lives and I am sorry for taking Annie Le's life. . 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. On that fateful day, Kelly stabbed her husband in their East Harford home and then set the house on fire. It was never determined how it happened, but investigators surmise that the attackers activated it while cutting the telephone line. Ronald and Patricia were quite close to their family, and their co-workers had nothing but praise for the two. However, after much deliberation, the jury did not agree and found her guilty as charged. kimberly high school mascot. They were arrested and sentenced to death. Three locals were honored for their heroic act of rescuing the life of a police officer who was stabbed during an argument. Although Fruean told police that Griffin held a gun to his head and forced him to help her kill Steller, he was convicted of accessory to murder as he helped Griffin break into the Stellers home, provided her with a gun and a knife, and egged her on. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. implicate Raymundo's boyfriend, a prosecution witness and her former Her accomplice, Gordon Butch Fruean, served 30 years in jail for his role in the crime. Sgt. Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Middletown is 1 in 942 and property crime is 1 in 79. Her friend had driven her to Connecticut several times, according to the Supreme Court summary. Van Der Kar, 52, also praised the jurors. children, 6-year-old Rachael Crum and 4-year-old Kyle Redway, who were The Connecticut medical examiner said that Le died of "traumatic asphyxiation," which could indicate a choke hold or some other form of suffocation caused by a hand or an object such as a pipe.In 2011, Raymond Clark III, 26, apologized in state Superior Court in New On the last trip her friend refused to drive her down. She eventually agreed to be friends, but was jealous of the new relationship. A decade later, a palpable tension turned to quiet jubilation for the Raymundo family the moment a 12-person jury found Sheila Davalloo guilty of murdering their daughter in 2002.Read more. Griffin viciously stabbed Steller and King multiple times and struck them with a lamp and a glass jar. Miles of hiking trails throughout Middletown are open to the public. 1. On September 6, 2007 the Flannerys lived in a small ranch-style house in Bridgeport.