He cooperated as officials investigated his claims. No next court date was scheduled Tuesday. Leveretts arrest in 2018 brought closure to a case that had puzzled investigators for years. 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. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Avon. WILLIAM WINTERS LEVERETT was arrested in September 2018 and charged with murder in the November 2014 homicide of Melissa Millan in Simsbury. We were just in shock and heartbroken, and we really couldnt believe it because we could never even imagine that he could do something like this., Mr. Trazinski added: After that, we said, Well, you know what you need to do. He said, Yeah, I know Ive got to turn myself in.. He donated his bloody boots to a Goodwill drop box and threw the knife away in a trash compactor at work. ', 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? Leverett, 27, of Windsor Locks, who is a registered sex offender, was charged with one count of murder. Mr. Leverett went to the Simsbury Police Department that night and was interviewed by the police for more than four hours. The suspect had been arrested for sexual assault of a child in 2009 in Colorado and pleaded guilty in 2011, The Hartford Courant reported. 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. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Doug Stewart is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. 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. Elizabeth, or "Beth" as she was known by those close to her, is remembered as a loving mother of her 14-month-old son Dominik, a talented student, and a valued employee at Ocean State Job Lot where she worked for six years, according to her obituary. 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. "She will be forever loved and missed," the obituary said. On September 19, 2018, Leverett walked into police headquarters and confessed to the crime in order to "rid himself of demons." He told investigators he went into a frenzy after seeing Millan and at that moment, decided to attack her with a knife he had in his vehicle, according to the arrest application. Its a very safe community, Davis said on Sunday. FOLLOW US ONTWITTER,FACEBOOK&INSTAGRAM, Example video title will go here for this video. On the night of Sept. 19, the parents of Elizabeth Day, 24, and Michael Wawrzyniak, 25, received a devastating call from police. Authorities continue to investigate what theyre classifying as a domestic violence shooting at a Weatogue home in Simsbury, Conn., on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021. Leverett also led police to a barn where he threw a bloody glove. Authorities released a gut-wrenching video on Wednesday that shows a Connecticut man entering a police department lobby and confessing to a brutal murder. William. 335. CT 06045 Phone: 800-237-3606 Email: service@ . He also said that he had washed the blood from his clothes and tried to toss a pair of gloves into the rafters of a barn. Since his arrest and subsequent conviction for the killing of Cynthia Mitchell 26 years ago, Mark Downey has been a model prisoner and turned his life around, his lawyers told a Hartford judge on Tuesday. Mr. Leverett told the police that on the night of the murder, he had written letters confessing to the crime, though he never sent them. The investigation is active and information will be provided when possible, police said. Day leaves behind her parents Jimmy and Joanie (Anasoulis) Day, of Canton, her brother, Jim and her sister, Stephanie. Leverett told police he did not know Millan and had never seen her prior to the moment she jogged by him. Downey, 61, has worked in a variety of jobs, taken advantage of every program the correction system offers, is remorseful, and has remained sober despite the availability of drugs and other substances in prison, his lawyers told Hartford Superior Court Judge Laura F. Baldini. At their urging, Leverett went to the police department to turn himself in. The deadly domestic violence encounter happened shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday at the couples Woodleigh Place home in Weatogue. 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. Leverett will be sentenced on May 3. 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. When officers forced their way into the apartment, they found Day and Wawrzyniak dead, and their child uninjured. Leverett pleaded. 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. Baldini agreed to reduce Downeys sentence by four years. These types of incidents can happen anywhere.. 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. 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. The man, William Winters Leverett, 27, of Windsor Locks, Conn., has been charged with murder. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Milan and Leverett had never met before the violent encounter, according to police. A major police presence descended on the neighborhood. ', 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. He can be reached atdstewart@fox61.com. Yes, I do, your honor, Leverett responded. Co-workers at Day's job remember her as friendly and a good worker. Her manager at the store, Bob Kyser, said she was "really well loved.". Police officers were dispatched to the scene, and the dipatcher then heard several gunshots, the report said. 'Something happened' and the next thing he knew he had stabbed her in the chest with a knife he was carrying. Her son with Wawrzyniak is staying with Day's parents. He referred to Ms. Millan as way out of my league, the affidavit said, and became angry and went into a frenzy., Mr. Patty Snediker stands for a portrait outside of her sister's Simsbury home on Oct. 23, 2019. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, which was posted online by Fox 61, a local news outlet, Mr. Leverett told the police that on the night of the murder, he had come from a sex offenders therapy group. Ken Peterson, a neighbor who has lived at the Meadows Apartments for about a year, said he had seen the couple with their baby just a few days before the shooting. "I just turned up the television.". Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search FOX61 and click Get to download. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? She also cautioned him that with his rejection Tuesday the deal is permanently withdrawn. Retracing the path of controversial Project Veritas founder James O'Keefe includes many stops in Connecticut. He appeared before Superior Court Judge Shelia M. Prats via a video link from the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. 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. Leverett said he heard Milan say: Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, before she went quiet, records show. Although a story that appeared in The Hartford Courant reported that Dominik's father was still active in his life, Wawrzyniak's mother, Mary, said Michael was in fact the boy's father. The arrest and arraignment of the suspect brings renewed grief, heartache and the knowledge that justice can never be served for the senseless act that robbed us of Melissas beautiful presence, it said. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 860-658-3145. Downey testified that he could not remember what happened the night of the shooting, Alexander said. The lawyers initially asked for a 20-year reduction of his sentence, but scaled that back to five years. Then he confessed to us that he did it, she said in an interview on Wednesday. Two people have died. Court records showrf that Downeys blood-alcohol level was at least .15 percent, nearly twice than what is now considered legally drunk. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. According to the affidavit, Mr. Leverett told the police that when he came home from the therapy group, nobody was there, not even the dog, and he was lonely.. Sign up for the FOX61 newsletters:Morning Forecast, Morning Headlines, Evening Headlines. A man charged with the 2014 murder of a Simsbury mother has pleaded guilty, court documents show. Linda Halligan, 57, and 59-year-old Bernard Halligan, Jr., were found. He did not go to jail but was placed on probation and the sex offender registry, the Courant said. Leverett led police to then home in Windsor Locks, where he showed them two confession notes. . 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. Simsbury police are investigating a shooting on Woodleigh Place 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. Email us atnewsteam@fox61.com. Mr. Leverett said he was driving when he saw a woman jogging. 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. He was arrested several days later after police investigated his confession. William W. Leverett, 30, entered the . 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. Their relationship was not working out, and Beth was trying to move back home with us.". 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. The telephone messages around 7:30 p.m. Sunday said that those in the area should please remain inside your residences and await further information.. The Connecticut domestic violence hotline can be reached 24/7 at 888-774-2900, or 844-831-9200 for Spanish speakers. Officers received a call about a reported shooting at a. "Officers from Avon and Simsbury assembled to make contact with the occupants of the apartment," Boulter wrote. He said he wiped the blood off the boots he wore that night and continued to wear them for several months before donating them to a Goodwill, the document said. Leverett allegedly said "he began thinking about a possible interaction with her," but became "anxious, realizing that 'I (Leverett) can't have her' and that 'she's way out of my league," the documents said. (Kassi Jackson / Hartford Courant) SIMSBURY . 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