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Thousands Mourn Doctor's Slain Family

By SUSAN HAIGH,
AP
Posted: 2007-07-28 20:20:38
Filed Under: Crime News
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (July 28) - Dr. William Petit Jr. still bore bruises and gashes as he urged mourners Saturday to "spread the work" of his wife and two young daughters, who were slain after burglars surprised them in their home.

Petit, the lone survivor of the violent attack, told thousands of friends and strangers who crowded the memorial service about his wife of 22 years, who was a nurse; his college-bound daughter; and his youngest, who was just 11.

"I guess if there's anything to be gained from the senseless deaths of my beautiful family, it's for us all to go forward with the inclination to live with a faith that embodies action. Help a neighbor, fight for a cause, love your family," Petit said.

"I'm really expecting all of you to go out and do some of these things with your family, in your own little way, to spread the work of these three wonderful women. Thank you," he told the crowd.

Authorities say two men with long criminal histories broke into Petit's Cheshire home early Monday and held the family hostage for several hours. One forced Jennifer Hawke-Petit, 48, to make a withdrawal at a bank later that morning, triggering suspicion among bank employees, police said. Police rushed to the house, found it on fire and encountered the suspects fleeing. The two were arrested after crashing the Petits' car into police cruisers.

Petit was severely beaten and bound in the basement but managed to escape the fire. The bodies of his relatives were found in the smoldering home. Hawke-Petit was strangled, while Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11, died of smoke inhalation.

Those who filled Central Connecticut State University's 1,800-seat Welte Hall and still more at a side location on Saturday heard stories about their vibrant spirits and their love for each other, their community and their strong faith.

"As much as we weep, as much as we mourn their loss, as much as we miss them, God weeps with us," said Stephen Volpe, their pastor at Cheshire United Methodist Church.

The family is well-known in the state. Petit, 50, is the medical director of the Joslin Diabetes Center Affiliate at The Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain and president of the Hartford County Medical Association.

His wife was a health center director at the Cheshire Academy, and daughter Michaela attended Chase Collegiate School in Waterbury. Hayley, who recently graduated from Miss Porter's School in Farmington, had won early acceptance to Dartmouth, her father's alma mater.

Megan Alexander, 17, said Hawke-Petit was a second mother to many of the students at Cheshire Academy, many of whom are boarders and come from other countries. "She was always there for you," Alexander said.

Johanna Chapman, Dr. Petit's sister, said Hayley was inquisitive as a toddler, asking about the universe's formation. She was the cousin all of the younger cousins looked up to.

"The short time Hayley was here, she made an amazing difference," said Chapman, choking back tears. "Can you imagine what she could have done?"

Michaela, Chapman said, loved to cook and had prepared the family's dinner on Sunday - a salad with homemade balsamic vinaigrette, pasta and sauce made from fresh local tomatoes, basil and garlic.

"Losing her at age 11 is possibly the greatest loss of all, because she never got the chance to show us how great she could have been," Chapman said.

The suspects, 26-year-old Joshua Komisarjevsky of Cheshire and 44-year-old Steven Hayes of Winsted, are charged with capital felony, arson, sexual assault and other crimes, and could face the death penalty if convicted. Both had been released earlier this year from prison.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2007-07-25 15:23:34
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Recent Comments

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11420 comments

gayle50638 10:33:32 AM Aug 30 2007

continued.

he was charged with attempted homicide....I find this interesting in light of the fact that this charge has not been given to the perps in the petit case...I am still wondering what would have a chilling effect on this case...1. the perps were hired 2. the girls were mutilated 3.The doc was involved......any other ideas as to what would be chilling would be welcomed

gayle50638 10:25:27 AM Aug 30 2007

I agree dateline or court tv or someone national would have picked it up for a show or discussion by now. It could be something simple like the police screwed up and they want to keep it as hushed as they can but it will eventually comeout as to why police too so long to get there and then sat listening to screams 15-20 minutes before the fire....screams like that you don't forget. People say they police were wise for just not barging in...I don't think so. ... some could have distracted from the front as others went in the back or through the same bulk head door the perps did...who really knows I still think lives would have been saved... that time will defintely have to be defended at some point.....of course the police will say the bank was not clear on the situation or waited to long to call....the bank will say Mrs. Petit was not clear on what was going on....and on and on. IN the news today an 18 yr old stabed his half brothers...twins... and one died...other critical...he wa

rayda273 10:06:06 PM Aug 28 2007

I looked through the thick Sunday paper this weekend, and saw nothing. I also went on the site you, Gayle, suggested, wfsb.com, and couldn't find a single article! Why? If it was so cut and dry, there would be daily information. There would be interviews by people who knew someone, who knew someone -- all interviews that would be based on ridiculous connections.They have a hefty lid on this one!

gayle50638 10:01:07 AM Aug 27 2007

I think they have an extraordinary tight lid on this case more than others...this makes me think there is something big going on. They practically cought the perps red handed w the money from the bank as they came out of the burning home..... It was released that info given out at this time would have a "chilling effect" on the case. Why go through all this when they have the men in custody. Try them and fry them. It's got to be bigger than just those guys.

gayle50638 09:55:43 AM Aug 27 2007

I agree about public and private personna...how many times do you see people like preachers in the news for sex offense or spousal abuse and everyone is shocked....we never know what goes on behind closed doors.

rayda273 12:58:46 AM Aug 27 2007

Everyone has a public and a private persona. The difference lies in the margin between.

sialia414 07:49:31 PM Aug 25 2007

that's what i'm wondering, after constantly hearing, how great the family is/was---for their sake, i just hope they look into all aspects of this murder!

gayle50638 11:51:56 AM Aug 25 2007

Sounds verrrrrrrrrry familiar sailia...lol...no doubt they weren't the first nor would they be the last to do something like this....I hope they have a profiler aiding the investigation

sialia414 09:54:12 PM Aug 24 2007

lol---no kidding! i was watching discovery channel today, and they had 3 different murders, committed by arson?? they did not let the family go thru all the stuff left over! they blamed the husband, because he was all dressed, when he came out of the house (he had killed his wife, for the ins money)----and his shoes were tied neatly---not something u do, if running out of a burning home? it was weeks, before the cops turned it over to the ins co! ......the next one they showed, they said it was suspicious, cause the wife slepf on the first floor---listening doc? they showed the cops sifting thru every later of ash. THEY excavated the rubble, not the family. she said she wanted to get revenge and hurt her husband? so her kids died? maybe they are related!

KathiSpunky 03:47:18 PM Aug 24 2007

DOESN'T MEAN SQUAT YOU CAN BE A GREAT COUPLE...IN PUBLIC, BUT EVEN DOCTORS' CAN HAVE SKELETONS IN THE DAMN CLOSET LET'S GET INTO REALITY....HELLO!..........

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