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. James Gill, the states chief medical examiner, on Tuesday said 57-year-old Linda Halligans death was ruled a homicide. All rights reserved, High of 50 Thursday; Wintry Mix to Move in Friday Night, Plan for Canton Cannabis Dispensary Gets Approval, Avelo Says Airline Will Work to Improve Communication After NBC CT Responds Report, Hunter Accused of Killing 2 Pet Dogs in Ridgefield Appears in Court, Wintry Mix to Move in Friday Night, Snow and Sleet Accumulation Possible, Better Health: Dr. Katherine Rotker Discusses Vasectomy Procedure, NBC & Telemundo Connecticut Job Opportunities. 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(Simsbury Police Department) SIMSBURY, CT William Leverett, a suspect in the 2014 homicide of 54-year-old Simsbury mother Melissa Millan, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a single count of. Authorities continue to investigate what theyre classifying as a domestic violence shooting at a Weatogue home in Simsbury, Conn., on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021. 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. Both were. The Trazinskis, who said they met Mr. Leverett about four months after Ms. Millan was killed, said that church members were bewildered by his confession. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. A Connecticut State Police crime lab truck pulled up about 11:25 p.m. on the walkway between her apartment and the one in which the couple was found, she said. Patty Snediker stands for a portrait outside of her sister's Simsbury home on Oct. 23, 2019. Melchiorre told the judge that a three-year sentence reduction was appropriate, given Downeys efforts to better himself in prison and the fact the conviction for murder was his first crime. Downey testified that he could not remember what happened the night of the shooting, Alexander said. 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. The judge told Downey that he has used his time in prison wisely, but at the same time she said she could not overlook that he took a life. They were a young couple with a little boy. Nicholas Rondinone can be reached at nrondinone@courant.com. I was drunk.. He moved to Simsbury. He has health problems, including a condition that thickens his blood and makes him more susceptible to strokes, and heart disease. Photo by Scot Allyn/Register Citizen Staff, The back of the apartment that was the site of an apparent shooting in Simsbury. Ms. Trazinski told Mr. Leverett that she remembered hearing reports of the crime. 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. He came home, felt lonely, went for a drive, spotted Millan jogging and said he got mentally aroused by her physical features before realizing she was, way out of my league., He got angry purposely ran into Millan took out a knife and plunged it into her chest as Millan fell back saying Oh my God.. Leverett also led police to a barn where he threw a bloody glove. 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. M. Fred Decaprio and Ken Simon first thanked prosecutor Vicki Melchiorre for agreeing to consider their request for a sentence modification, then made their argument to Baldini. Click Manage settings for more information and to manage your choices. Two people have died. Tara O'Neill was formerly a breaking news reporter with Hearst Connecticut Media Group. The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence offers services and advocates 24/7 by visiting CTSafeConnect.org or calling or texting 888-774-2900. The couple prayed with Mr. Leverett. It was clear this was not an accidental shooting, Alexander said. Police are still investigating the incidents that led up to the fatal double shooting that night. No next court date was scheduled Tuesday. Trending Watch 24/7 NBC CT Weather Blog 70 Years of NBC Connecticut NBC CT's The Connection CT Live . Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Avon. Nicholas Boulter. 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. The lawyers initially asked for a 20-year reduction of his sentence, but scaled that back to five years. The arrest warrant detailed Leverett wrote confession letters the night of the murder. Her homicide case went unsolved for nearly four years. pointed a gun at Day and pulled the trigger, reported that Dominik's father was still active in his life. Stream Live on ROKU:Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61. 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. 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. SIMSBURY The deaths of a husband and wife on Sunday have been ruled a murder-suicide, officials said. No additional information was available. . Doug Stewart is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. Information about your device and internet connection, like your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Yahoo websites and apps. Exclusive: Simsbury Police release new details in murder of MassMutual executive | fox61.com. 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. William Leverett was accompanied by three . William W. Leverett, 30, entered the . Posted Tue, Nov 7, 2017 at 8:33 pm ET. Many ancient pipes in CT aren't up to the task of draining storm water, yet officials just seem to shrug. 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 . "I was sitting in my living room, watching baseball on television, when I heard the voices," she said. 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. Their 18-month-old son was found by officers unharmed, according to Simsbury Police Capt. Her manager at the store, Bob Kyser, said she was "really well loved.". The man, William Winters Leverett, 27, of Windsor Locks, Conn., has been charged with murder. Simsbury police are investigating a shooting on Woodleigh Place in Weatogue. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. "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. 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. RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Police tailed Simsbury cold case murder suspect after confession. Davis classified the incident as a domestic violence shooting. 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. We never would have expected this.". At the police station, he opened up to investigators about how the victim was "way out of my league," said his "anger escalated," and "the next thing he knew he had stabbed her in the chest," according to document. Leverett led police to then home in Windsor Locks, where he showed them two confession notes. A Confession Came Four Years Later. In October 2020, Leverett was offered a 35-year prison sentence and 10 years parole in a plea deal. UConn men rout DePaul 88-59 in final home game, These are the links mentioned on FOX61 News, WEATHER WATCH: Friday night into Saturday morning wintry mix, Connecticut residents hit the slopes after heavy snowfall, Suspect in 2014 Simsbury murder pleads not guilty, EXCLUSIVE: Police tailed Simsbury cold case murder suspect after confession. Leverett is being held on a $2 million bond. I was just going with the flow, Downey said during a hearing to suppress his statements. He had been held on a $2 million bond. She had gone out for a run the night before. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 3. 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. Beth Day and Michael Wawrzyniak, who lived at the Meadows Apartments, 71 Hopmeadow St . Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. DNA from the glove was analyzed and Leverett was arrested. "We knew what we had to do. 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 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? He was arraigned Monday, but the results were not clear. 'Something happened' and the next thing he knew he had stabbed her in the chest with a knife he was carrying. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. Gill said they each died from a gunshot wound. 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. 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. That poor boy's going to have a terrible time. Officers received a call about a reported shooting at a. 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. He did not go to jail but was placed on probation and the sex offender registry, the Courant said. The body of Roberto Fonseca-Rivera, 44, of Boston, Massachusetts, was found behind the wheel of the Katsiroubas Produce truck he had . On the night of Sept. 19, the parents of Elizabeth Day, 24, and Michael Wawrzyniak, 25, received a devastating call from police. William Leverett's attorneys entered a plea guilty bargain in Hartford Superior Court on. Residents received two automatic telephone calls from the police that said officers were investigating in the area of Woodleigh Place and Stillwood Chase, a residential neighborhood where homes often have more than one acre of property and cost in the range of $700,000. HARTFORD, Conn. A man charged with the 2014 murder of a Simsbury mother has pleaded guilty, court documents show. The deadly domestic violence encounter happened shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday at the couples Woodleigh Place home in Weatogue. The night of the killing, he was at a sex offenders support group meeting in Hartford. A major police presence descended on the neighborhood. Deputy Police Chief Chris Davis said his department received a call around 5:20 p.m. for a reported shooting at a Woodleigh Place home in Weatogue. Deputy Police Chief Chris Davis said his department received a 911 call from an 18-year-old woman, who was identified as a family member from inside that residence, who witnessed the shooting and fled the home, running to a neighbor to call police. 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. 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. 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. Simsbury double fatal shooting ruled a murder-suicide 00:00 00:00 An unknown error has occurred The Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Linda Halligan's death a homicide from. "She will be forever loved and missed," the obituary said. Getting It Done In The Classroom: Granby, East Granby College Students, Recent Obituaries From Granby And East Granby, Who's Coming, Who's Going: The Latest Property Sales In Granby, Man Sentenced In Murder, Robbery Of Jewelry Store Owner: CT News, Wednesday's State Tournament Scoreboard: Hartford And Tolland Counties, Public Access TV Show Focuses On Non-Profits And Community Heroes, Granby-East Granby Area Real Estate Roundup, Hartford County Government: Mayor Bronin Activates Snow Parking Ban Tonight. 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. 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. Trazinski's wife and co-pastor, Colette Trazinksi, called Leverett "a faithful member of the church. Mr. Leverett went to the Simsbury Police Department that night and was interviewed by the police for more than four hours. He appeared before Superior Court Judge Shelia M. Prats via a video link from the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Collinsville. Millan was found dead along Iron Horse Boulevard in Simsbury, about 11 miles northwest of. I used to see them pushing him in a stroller that looked like a truck. William. We want to hear from you! https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/27/nyregion/confess-cold-case-murder-connecticut-jogger.html. Justice needed to be done.". William Leverette, a convicted sex offender, walked into Simsbury CT police department and confessed to killing Melissa Millan in 2014. 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. ', West Haven mayor under fire after city is left without a finance director at start of budget season, Wallingford BOE votes to consolidate Sheehan, Lyman Hall high schools into one building, The Best Private High Schools near New Haven, Guide to Legal Cannabis Dispensaries in CT, The Best Private Preschools Near New Haven. Leverett was on probation after a conviction of child sex assault in Colorado in 2011. Leveretts confession to authorities came after he confided in a small group from his Windsor Locks church that he had slain the woman in 2014. 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