Horrific Crimes
Trial stirs painful memories of brutal home invasion -
… Two men broke into the home around 3 a.m. on July 23, 2007, and subjected the Petit family to a seven-hour ordeal, according to police. …
Trial stirs painful memories of brutal home invasion
A small, well-tended garden is all that remains at 300 Sorghum Mill Drive in this quiet town.
Even on a dreary, rainy January day, with little abloom, the spot is peaceful. It shows few signs of the horrifying home invasion that killed a mother and her two daughters there more than two years ago, robbing a man of his wife and children.
The killings shook the suburban community, prompted legislative changes in the state, and attracted the attention of the national media.
During the overnight hours the suspects allegedly broke into the home through an unlocked hatchway in the basement. They’re accused of dragging Dr. Petit to the basement and beating him with a baseball bat to within inches of his life.
They’re then accused of raping Hawke-Petit and one of her daughters.
They also allegedly took Hawke-Petit to the bank, forcing her to withdraw money. It was at that point that she was able to alert others about what was going on back on Sorghum Mill Road by passing a note to the teller.
By the time police arrived things were happening quickly. The house was set on fire. All three victims were found inside.
Police say Hawke-Petit had been strangled to death. The two girls died of smoke inhalation.
Steven Hayes and Joshua Komisarjevsky were arrested the same day, and have been locked up ever since.
Day 1: Opening testimony in Hayes’…
The first day of testimony in the murder trial of Cheshire home…
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