[123], On August 5, 2012, Petit married Christine Paluf and moved to Farmington, Connecticut. Baby William brings happy news for Dr Petit whose first wife Jennifer and two daughters, 17-year-old Hayley and 11-year-old Michaela, were raped and … [124], HBO broadcast a documentary by filmmaker David Heilbroner called The Cheshire Murders about the murders on July 22, 2013. [62], Dr. Petit condemned the Connecticut Supreme Court's decision to abolish the death penalty in August 2015, saying he believed the court had overstepped its powers and urging it to give greater consideration to the "emotional impact, particularly on victims and their loved ones" that death penalty cases generate. After returning to the home, he raped her and strangled her to death. [9][10][11] They picked up food for a family dinner Michaela planned to prepare. Dr Petit, has watched over my families health for over 20 years. He keeps on living. Subsequent to sentencing for the Petit murders, and up until August 16, 2016 (when he was transferred to a correctional facility in Pennsylvania as part of an interstate corrections compact), he was incarcerated in the Northern Correctional Institution,[69] which housed the state's death row for men, in Somers, Connecticut. HAWKE-PETIT, Jennifer Lynn Jennifer Lynn Hawke-Petit, 48, of Cheshire, beloved wife of Dr. William A. Petit, Jr., passed away tragically on Monday (July … Select from premium Dr. William Petit of the highest quality. [62], Steven J. Hayes (born May 30, 1963, in Homestead, Florida) was convicted as an adult for the first time in 1980 at age 16. [2] The murders received national and international attention as well,[3] and had a significant impact on Connecticut's death penalty, ultimately delaying its abolition. [104] His death sentence became a life sentence in August 2015 when the state abolished the death penalty. His trial began on September 19, 2011, and on October 13, 2011, he was convicted on all 17 counts. Doctor Petit has been there through all of them. "I thought, it's now or never because in my mind at that moment, I thought they were going to shoot all of us. [10][44][45] Michaela's body was found in her bedroom. Dr. William Petit was severely injured. Komisarjevsky is incarcerated in the State Correctional Institution – Phoenix in Skippack Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. [76], In the early 1990s Komisarjevsky's sister accused him of sexually assaulting her. Komisarjevsky was convicted in 2011 and sentenced to death in 2012. I have long believed that there are certain crimes so heinous, so depraved, that society is best served by imposing the ultimate sanction on the criminal. The Cheshire, Connecticut, home invasion murders occurred on July 23, 2007, when Joshua Komisarjevsky and Steven Hayes invaded the residence of the Petit family in Cheshire, Connecticut, United States. The second day of these deliberations began on November 6. They have also lived in Cheshire, CT and Burlington, CT. William is related to Kyla M Petit and Glen F Petit as well as 2 additional people. I push forward in the hope that good will overcome evil. [86] Komisarjevsky also argues that he did not receive a fair trial due to the location it was held in. [37] The neighbor initially did not recognize Dr. Petit due to the severity of his injuries. [133] Petit was elected, ousting 11-term Democratic Representative Betty Boukus, and currently serves as representative in the Connecticut House of Representatives. () September 24, 1956 (age 64) Plainville, Connecticut: Political party: Republican: Spouse(s) He spoke about the shame, disappointment, and hurt he had caused, saying: "I will never find peace within. Following the completion of the trial, the jury deliberated for about five hours and reached guilty verdicts on October 5. [72] This sentence became a life sentence when the Connecticut Supreme Court vacated the sentence in 2015. "[83] On August 18, after being transferred, Komisarjevsky attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself. [91] Hayes' defense attorneys argued that Komisarjevsky was the mastermind behind the home invasion and that he was responsible for escalating the violent nature of the crime at every critical point. [34] In his interrogation, he claimed that he believed Michaela was 14 or 16. [132] But in May 2016, Petit announced a bid for Connecticut's 22nd House District. [39] Komisarjevsky's trial began on September 19, 2011. During the penalty phase of his trial, Komisarjevsky's father conceded that this was probably true. Hayes' last arrest before the Cheshire murders was in 2004 after he smashed a car window with a rock and stole a woman's purse. "[110], Blue set July 20, 2012, as Komisarjevsky's execution date. [36], Dr. Petit was able to hear his wife’s assault upstairs. [23] His wife Jennifer Hawke-Petit and his two daughters, 17-year-old Hayley Petit and 11-year-old Michaela Petit, were all murdered. [39] After the verdict, his defense attorney stated: "Hayes smiled upon hearing the jury's recommendation of a death sentence." ", to which Komisarjevsky replied: "I'm putting the kid to bed hold your horses". The first day of deliberations ended with the jury split over whether to recommend life in prison or death. He’s been there as my two beautiful babies grew into two healthy young women. He also spoke about his family, saying: "Michaela was an 11-year-old little girl tortured and killed in her own bedroom, surrounded by stuffed animals. [82] On January 27, 2012, Komisarjevsky was sentenced to death by lethal injection. [74] Komisarjevsky committed his first burglary when he was 14. During the time between this incident and the Cheshire murders, Hayes was arrested nearly 30 times. William Petit Jr., the Connecticut doctor whose wife and daughters were brutally murdered during a 2007 home invasion, has won a seat in the state’s legislature. According to Connecticut state prison officials, the transfer was done as part of an interstate corrections compact due to reasons pertaining to "safety and security. May God have mercy on your soul. Komisarjevsky told his attorney that after robbing the houses, he would go to the rooms where the occupants were sleeping and listen to them breathe. Rell on Hayes decision", "Death Penalty Repeal Goes to Connecticut Governor", "Connecticut becomes 17th state to abolish death penalty", "Timeline: Deadly Cheshire Home Invasion", "Oct. 8: 'The Mystery of Horseshoe Drive' and revisiting 'The Family on Sorghum Mill Drive, In his first interview: Grieving husband and father Dr. William Petit on the unspeakable tragedy in Connecticut, "Dr. William Petit, victim of Cheshire home invasion, remarries", "Cheshire to relive painful time in HBO film", "HBO's The Cheshire Murders Explores the Shades of Gray in an Open-Shut Case", "Video Landing Page – WFSB 3 Connecticut", "Home Invasion Survivor William Petit Welcomes Baby in Time for Thanksgiving – ABC News", "First picture of baby boy born to doctor 6 years after his wife, daughters were murdered", "Dr. William Petit Approached By GOP Officials To Run For Congress", "Dr. William Petit and politics: Dr. William Petit, the lone survivor of the Cheshire home invasion in 2007 in which his wife and two daughters were killed, is being wooed by Republican leaders to run for Congress in the 5th District", "Dr. William Petit Won't Run For Congress", "Dr. William Petit Running For State Legislature In Plainville", "Connecticut Death Penalty Ruling Stirs Painful Memories of 3 Grisly Killings", Photograph of Steven Hayes and Joshua Komisarjevsky, Statement of Governor M. Jodi Rell, on verdict in trial of Steven Hayes, Novitiate and College of Humanities of the Legionaries of Christ, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cheshire,_Connecticut,_home_invasion_murders&oldid=1008199720, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles which use infobox templates with no data rows, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Convicted on 16 counts; sentenced to death on six counts of capital felony (Resentenced to Life), Convicted of 17 out of 17 charges, including six capital felonies, Capital felony, sexual assault, murder, kidnapping, and arson, This page was last edited on 22 February 2021, at 02:14. [84], Hayes is currently incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution – Greene, a supermax prison in Franklin Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania. [15], Shortly afterwards, Steven Hayes sent a text message to Komisarjevsky that read, "I'm chomping at the bit to get started. HARTFORD — There was little left to hold on to in the charred ruins of Dr. William Petit Jr.'s burned home in Cheshire. [66] On November 8, 2010, the jury returned with a recommendation for him to be executed. [55], On January 6, 2008, over 130,000 luminaria candles were lit in front of thousands of homes across Cheshire in "Cheshire Lights of Hope", a fundraiser for multiple sclerosis and a tribute to the Petit family. The same man had appeared at St. Mary's Hospital a few days before to measure him, because William A. Petit Jr., fifty years old, successful endocrinologist, director of clinical research at … He did this because he enjoyed the feeling of invading people’s homes and violating their security. They were never supposed to lose their lives. The home invasion had lasted seven hours. The third result is William A Petit Sr age 80+ in Plainville, CT. He then added: "He is thrilled. Upon their arrival in the early hours of July 23, they found Dr. Petit asleep on a couch in the sun room. [40], Dr. Petit had been able to free himself of his restraints, exit the house, and crawl to a neighbor's yard for help. But the parole board that released Komisarjevsky never received the transcript and was not aware of all the details regarding his case. Learn how to eat real, nutrient-dense food in your home kitchen and achieve optimal health from archaeologist, professor, chef, father, co-star of NatGeo's The Great Human Race, and husband, Dr. Bill Schindler. She was still in her bed, her hands tied to it and her lower body hanging off of it. "[100] Judge Jon Blue formally imposed six death sentences, one for each of the capital charges; Blue then added a sentence of 106 years for other crimes Hayes committed during the home invasion, including kidnapping, burglary, and assault, before finishing with, "This is a terrible sentence, but is, in truth, a sentence you wrote for yourself in flames. [1] While tied to their beds, both daughters were doused with gasoline as well. He was sentenced to nine years in prison with six years of special parole. [73], Joshua A. Komisarjevsky (born August 10, 1980) was Hayes' co-conspirator in the home invasion and murders. He met her when she was volunteering with the Petit Family Foundation. After being paroled, Komisarjevsky stayed at the Silliman halfway house where he met Hayes. [65], Hayes was found guilty on 16 of 17 counts related to the Cheshire murders on October 5, 2010. Hayes then texted, "We still on?" Home invasion became a new class of crime which could result in a prison sentence of up to 25 years. 12. Hawke-Petit and her daughters were also restrained. From 2004 – 2007 Crystal was a reporter at WGGB – TV in Springfield, MA. In Komisarjevsky's diary, which was later entered into evidence, he called Dr. Petit a "coward" and claimed that he could have saved his family if he wanted to. Hayes … He was born to a 16-year-old girl impregnated by a mechanic who was "barely out of his teens" according to adoption officials. He was paroled in 1982 but violated it seven weeks later. Under Connecticut law, prosecutors were supposed to send the parole board a transcript of the sentencing proceeding. I did not intend for those women to die. [99], On December 2, 2010, Hayes apologized for the pain and suffering he had caused the Petit family and added that: "Death for me will be a welcome relief and I hope it will bring some peace and comfort to those who I have hurt so much. In 2002 he was arrested for 18 home invasions. [22] [52], The Petits' eldest daughter Hayley (born October 15, 1989) had just graduated from Miss Porter's School where she played varsity cross country, basketball, and crew and was a high honor roll student. Third and fourth-degree burns on her feet indicate that she got very close to the fire around the time she died. He yelled up and heard one of the invaders say, “Don’t worry. The bank manager called 9-1-1 and reported the situation to police while Hawke-Petit was still with the teller. Backups were later found in 2014 at Cheshire Town Hall. On January 25, 2008, Rell signed a 43-page bipartisan crime bill. He spent most of this time incarcerated. He spent most of this time incarcerated. [19][31] Evidence that Komisarjevsky raped Michaela came from her autopsy, during which State Medical Examiner Dr. Wayne Carver found his semen in her body. If you want to end his misery, put him to death. [94][95] Defense attorney Thomas Ullman told the jury that a sentence of life in prison would be the harshest possible punishment for his client Hayes, because he was so tormented by his crimes and would be isolated in prison. It’s all gonna be over in a couple of minutes.” Dr. Petit then managed to escape. On July 31 Governor Rell called for a special session to consider tougher crime legislation and on August 31 she appointed a task force to examine Connecticut's criminal justice system. [68], Hayes was an inmate of the Connecticut Department of Correction. However, on June 5, 2009, Rell vetoed the bill instead and cited the Cheshire murders as an exemplary reason for doing so. [6] His sentence also was reduced to a life sentence when the Connecticut Supreme Court vacated their sentence in 2015. In 2009, the Connecticut General Assembly sent legislation to abolish the state's death penalty to Governor M. Jodi Rell ostensibly to be signed into law. The clock is now ticking and I owe a debt I cannot repay. Komisarjevsky then entered the sun room and used the bat to strike Dr. Petit four or five times. He was also the medical director of the Joslin Diabetes Center at Connecticut's Central Hospital. [128][129] In October 2013, Petit announced that he was considering running for Congress for the Republican Party[130][131] after being approached by the National Republican Congressional Committee, who had asked him if he would be interested in running. My life will be a continuation of the hurt I caused. Michaela was raped by Komisarjevsky. Dr. Petit remembers one perpetrator telling the other, “If he moves, put two bullets in him.”[21] The children and their mother were then bound in their respective rooms. [1], Komisarjevsky remained incarcerated at the Walker Reception Center[78] in lieu of a $15 million bond[79] until his conviction. [27][29], Both Hayes and Komisarjevsky confessed to the murders. He was paroled in 1982 but violated it seven weeks later. She met her husband at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in 1985 when she was a new oncology nurse and he was a third-year medical student at the University of Pittsburgh. Petit's family were killed in a particularly horrific attack. The Court heard oral arguments in October 2019. Dr. William Petit has rebuilt his life at age 59 after his family was slaughtered inside its Cheshire home. [81] On December 9, 2011, the jury recommended the death penalty. "[108] Komisarjevsky made a statement during the sentencing hearing. "[109][110] Though he acknowledged taking part in the crime, he insisted that he did not intend to kill anyone, saying: "Millions have judged me guilty of capital offenses I did not commit. [57][58] After Hayley left for college, Michaela planned on taking over Hayley's Hope and renaming it "Michaela's Miracle." Three years later, Oprah visits Dr. William Petit at his parents' Connecticut home to talk about the tragic loss of his family and the strength he found to move forward. [116][117] In August 2015, the Connecticut Supreme Court declared all capital punishment inconsistent with the state constitution, effectively commuting the killers' sentences to life imprisonment.[7]. [15] According to Hayes' confession, Komisarjevsky provoked him into raping Hawke-Petit. [2] A physician before the home invasion, Petit devoted himself to philanthropy in the years after. William Petit is congratulated by his wife, Christine, and his son, William, at Republican headquarters in Plainville after winning the 22nd House District House seat in November 2016. She was a strong and courageous person, and Jennifer helped so many kids. Judge Jon Blue denied a request by defense attorneys for the trial to be moved from New Haven to Stamford. [54] Hayley had been an active fundraiser for multiple sclerosis research, following her mother's diagnosis with that disease. She captained a Walk MS Team called Hayley’s Hope. Find out how Dr. William Petit, the only surviving member of the family, goes on. [87][88], In October 2019, Hayes claimed to be transgender and was to be undergoing hormone therapy in prison as part of his transition into a woman. Prior to the first trial, his attorneys were not provided with recordings that he says could have helped his case, as they were destroyed due to a lightning strike in 2010. On Dec. 9, 2010, the world first heard from Dr. William Petit, who had lost his wife, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, and young daughters, Hayley and Michaela, in a brutal, random attack at their home in Con… The manager reported to the 9-1-1 dispatcher, in real-time, as Hawke-Petit left the bank. [74] He was adopted[75] by Benedict Komisarjevsky, the son of theatrical director Theodore Komisarjevsky and dancer Ernestine Stodelle, and his wife Jude (née Motkya). [110] As with Hayes, Komisarjevsky's death sentence was turned into a life sentence in August 2015. Both men attributed the grisly outcome to a change of plan. "Life in prison without the possibility of release is the harshest penalty," Ullman said. [24] Hayes and Komisarjevsky continued ransacking the house for money but were not satisfied with what they found. [89], Hayes' trial began on September 13, 2010. [70] The method of execution employed by Connecticut was lethal injection,[71] and the state execution chamber was located in the Osborn Correctional Institution in Somers. [6] In August 2015, the Connecticut Supreme Court, in defiance of the General Assembly which had abolished the death penalty only for future cases, ruled that the death penalty was unconstitutional and commuted all death sentences to life imprisonment, even if that sentencing took place prior to the date that the death penalty was abolished. [37] Dr. Petit 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 family. [26][27] What I cannot do is claim responsibility for the actions of another." [67][96] The jury recommended a death sentence on each of the six capital felony counts for which Hayes was convicted. Watch this timeline of the home invasion, rape, torture, murder and arson committed against the Petit family—one of the most horrible crimes in recent memory. After restraining the victims, Komisarjevsky and Hayes ransacked the house for cash. [19][27][49][50] Komisarjevsky also blamed Dr. Petit for the murders. His … They then found a check register with $40,000. They were immediately spotted by police surveillance, pursued, and arrested one block away after crashing into a police car. Hayes's next text asked, "Soon? [6] During the hearing, Judge Blue said "This is a terrible sentence, but it's one you wrote for yourself with deeds of unimaginable horror and savagery. The home invasion murders led to immediate calls for reforms to Connecticut’s criminal justice system. The Connecticut father whose wife and daughters were murdered in … [4][5], Hayes was convicted of the murders and sentenced to death in 2010. Hayes forced Hawke-Petit to withdraw $15,000 from her line of credit when the bank opened. [13][14] Prosecutors argued at the trial that Komisarjevsky was motivated by money and his interest in Michaela, whom he later sexually assaulted. Komisarjevsky's attorneys are arguing that the recordings could have helped bolster their argument that the police were inadequate in their response and therefore raise questions about the credibility of their testimony against him. On September 21 she banned parole for violent offenders and ordered a review of convicts already on parole. The medical examiner who performed an autopsy on her could not determine if the burns occurred before or after her death. While Hayley and Michaela were tied to their beds, the two men doused them and the house with gasoline. (Evidence photo from state Judicial Branch) Show More Show Less 2 of 11 The basement stairs that Dr. William Petit … [80][81] On December 9, 2011, the jury recommended the death penalty. [97] In the sentencing phase, the jury had deliberated for about 17 hours, over the course of four days before reaching a decision. [1] Komisarjevsky was convicted of 12 counts of burglary in December 2002. The Connecticut Senate had already voted for the bill, and on April 25 Governor Dan Malloy signed the bill into law. He was paroled in 2006 and was sent to the Silliman halfway house where he met Komisarjevsky. Bank surveillance cameras captured the transaction. During sentencing, Judge James Bentivegna described him as a “calculated, cold-blooded predator. Hayes and Komisarjevsky tied them by their wrists and ankles to their bedposts and placed pillowcases over their heads. I know my responsibilities. Hayes replied: "Dude, the horses want to get loose. "[67], For the first time in state history, the Connecticut state judicial branch offered post-traumatic stress assistance to jurors, who served for two months on the triple-murder trial, because they had been required to look at disturbing images and hear grisly testimony.