AP Features, July 24th, 2007
Two parolees with long criminal records were arraigned Tuesday on charges alleging they broke into a prominent doctor's Connecticut home, forced a hostage to withdraw cash from a bank and set fire to the house several hours later, killing the doctor's wife and two daughters.
William Petit Jr., a prominent endocrinologist, was severely injured and was the sole survivor of Monday's attack. The suspects were caught fleeing the burning home, which they apparently set on fire to cover their tracks, authorities said. The attack occurred in Cheshire, an upper-middle class community of 29,000 full of colonial-style homes about 15 miles (24 kilometers) north of New Haven.
Joshua Komisarjevky, 26, and Steven Hayes, 44, were charged with assault, sexual assault, kidnapping, burglary, robbery and arson, larceny and risk of injury to children. Bail was set at $15 million (euro10.8 million) each, and state police have said that additional charges are likely. A court bail commissioner said they each have rap sheets with more than 20 prior burglaries, and both were out of prison on parole.
The two men, who were represented by public defenders, did not enter pleas.
Bank employees contacted police when one of the suspects accompanied a female hostage, who was not identified, to make a withdrawal around 9:30 a.m. Monday.
Petit's wife, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, 48, and daughters Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11, were found dead in the home, a law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation said.
Dr. Petit, 50, the president of the Hartford County Medical Association, is a noted specialist in diabetes and endocrinology and the medical director of the Joslin Diabetes Center Affiliate at The Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain.
