Posted on 07/25/2007 9:29:36 AM PDT by Deo volente
A judge getting ready to send Joshua Komisarjevsky to prison in 2002 called him a "cold, calculating predator."
Equipped with night-vision goggles and armed with a knife, he would slash his way through screens into houses around his hometown of Cheshire, stealing mostly electronic equipment and petty cash to pay for a drug habit.
Steven Hayes had a record more noteworthy for its length than the severity of the crimes - decades of larcenies, burglaries and check forgeries. Hayes committed most of his crimes in the northwest corner, near his home in Winsted - far from Sorghum Mill Drive in Cheshire, where the horrific events that landed him back in court played out early Monday.
Although it is still unclear why they chose the home of Dr. William Petit Jr., one thing is certain, police say: The "calculating predator" and the career criminal descended to a level of violence that is almost unfathomable.
When the ordeal was over, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, 48, and her daughters, Hayley Petit, 18, and Michaela Petit, 11, were dead. The girls, sources said, were tied to their beds and raped, then left to burn after gasoline was poured around their beds and ignited.
Late Tuesday, the state medical examiner's office said Hawke-Petit was strangled and her daughters died of smoke inhalation. Their deaths were ruled homicides.
William Petit was beaten almost beyond recognition with a baseball bat, tied up in the basement and left for dead, only to make his way out of the house and to a neighbor before his home exploded into flames.
(Excerpt) Read more at courant.com ...
Ping.
As a CT state resident, I am still reeling from this horrible, senseless crime. My condolences to Dr. Pedit, as well as the family relations of the Pedits.
My God. If I were that man I would have rather died in the fire with my family than live knowing what happened to them. My heart aches for him.
Crimes like this are why I am against the death penalty.
There must be a Painful Torture for Life penalty instead.
I didn’t read all 4 pages of the story and maybe my answer is in there somewhere, but anyway:
Does CT have the death penalty?
Since Monday morning I've been shaken by this unspeakable crime, as have most Connecticut residents. Prayers for Dr. Petit and for his (extended) family, friends and patients...
I hope the two POS animals that did this get the death penalty ASAP, and that there's a special place in hell for them...
Cite the judge who let these bastards go...
I sent a letter to the hartford courant tellign them that we need 1) a workable death penalty, 2) a three-strikes law, and 3) more emphasis on self defense (firearms).
wanna bet it never sees the light of day?
Thank you so much for taking over the CT ping list for me, FRiend. I'll try to contribute when I can from time to time...
Authorities are believed to be considering whether to bring murder and capital felony charges against both men, which would make them eligible for the death penalty.
Letting these guys back out on the street was an unspeakable crime too.
When I get a shotgun and somebody tries breaking into a unit in my building, there will be the death penalty.
That’s pretty surprising. I would have thought the answer was no.
I second that! I hope that justice is administered swiftly and not like the debacle that surrounded Michael Ross...
Go to the posting board(s) that courant.com has and the number of postings calling for the perps to “fry” by a large number of the posters, both from posters living in CT and those living outside. This news story has gone national bigtime because CT is seen as a liberal state. I hope it change things for the better in CT.
I have two daughters and a wife. When I think of this horrific crime and what those beautiful young women went through it’s almost too much to bear.
And it is also why, again, as the only man in the house with 2 daughters and a wife.......yes....I do keep a loaded 9 millimeter Smith and Wesson handy....I am the only one who knows where it is.....the safety is always on.......but I will not hesitate to use it first....and ask questions later....
May God comfort the Dr. who survived.
Thank you so much for taking over the CT ping list for me, FRiend. I'll try to contribute when I can from time to time...
Well, normally I'd say it has been my pleasure doing the CT Pings. However, these stories have been painful to read.
This could have had a lot happier ending if the dad had a gun in the house.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.