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Cheshire, Connecticut, home invasion murders

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Cheshire, Connecticut, home invasion murders
The location of Cheshire within Connecticut
LocationCheshire, Connecticut
DateJuly 23, 2007
TargetPetit family
Attack type
Home invasion, arson, murder
WeaponsBaseball bat, gun, gasoline
Deaths3
Injured
1
PerpetratorsSteven Hayes
Joshua Komisarjevsky

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]

  • 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

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Steven J. Hayes
Born (1963-05-30) May 30, 1963 (age 61)
Criminal statusConvicted on 16 counts; sentenced to death on six counts of capital felony
ChildrenA son and a daughter
Conviction(s)Capital felony, murder, sexual assault
Criminal penaltySix consecutive death sentences plus 106 years
Joshua A. Komisarjevsky
Born (1980-08-10) August 10, 1980 (age 44)
Criminal statusConvicted of 17 out of 17 charges, including 6 Capital Felonies.
Conviction(s)Capital felony, sexual assault, murder, kidnapping, and arson.
Criminal penaltyDeath 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 | change source]
  1. Gardner, David. "'Things got out of control': Chilling confession of Connecticut massacre 'killer'." The Daily Mail. September 23, 2010. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  2. 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. 3.0 3.1 Death sentence in Connecticut home invasion, CNN, January 27, 2012
  4. "Man gets death in triple-killing home invasion". Archived from the original on 2012-01-11. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
  5. 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.
  6. "School Head Runs 'Miles for Michaela'." Good Morning America. November 5, 2007. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
  7. Steven Hayes found guilty of kidnap, rape and murder
  8. 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.
  9. Otis, Ginger Adams (July 13, 2008). "Ghost of a House: Grieving dad razes site of triple slay'". New York Post.
  10. Gardner, David. "'Things got out of control': Chilling confession of Connecticut massacre 'killer'." The Daily Mail. September 23, 2010. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  11. Steven Hayes Sentenced to Death for the Deadly Conn. Home Invasion
  12. Conn. man condemned to die for fatal home invasion
  13. "Hayes, Steven Joseph." Connecticut Department of Correction. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  14. Path to Parole Becomes Issue in Murder Case
  15. "Komisarjevsky, Joshua A." Connecticut Department of Correction. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  16. Two arrests announced in Cheshire arson/homicide, Connecticut Department of Public Safety, July 24, 2007
  17. 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.
  18. "Jury recommends death in Connecticut home invasion case". CNN. December 9, 2011. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2012.