Region: Two attorneys appointed for Griswold triple-murder suspect
Two attorneys named to represent Sergio Correa in triple slaying case
Sergio Correa, accused of killing three members of the Lindquist family and setting their home on fire during a crime spree in Griswold on Dec. 20, 2017, was appointed two attorneys Monday during an appearance in New London Superior Court.
He will be represented by Brian S. Carlow, a retired deputy chief public defender, and Michael W. Brown, who specializes in serious crimes. Both lawyers work for the Pieszak-Miller & Brodeur law firm in West Mystic.
Correa, 26, of Hartford, is being held in lieu of $3.3 million bond at the Northern Correctional Institution on charges of murder with special circumstances, three counts of felony murder, first-degree robbery, first-degree arson and second-degree arson and home invasion.
The state has determined that Correa is unable to pay for his defense and has appointed the two lawyers, who are in private practice but contract with the state to serve as special public defenders. They said they have met Correa and will be gathering information about the case before notifying the court if Correa wants a probable cause hearing. In Connecticut, all defendants charged with crimes that carry the possibility of a life sentence are entitled to such a hearing.
Also Monday, Judge Hillary B. Strackbein granted State’s Attorney Michael L. Regan’s request to continue sealing the arrest warrant affidavit detailing the state’s case against Correa through his next court appearance on Sept. 24. The defense attorneys have access to the affidavit.
According to other public court documents, Correa was on probation for robbery and gun crimes he committed as a 16-year-old when he arranged to meet Matthew Lindquist, 21, near the Lindquist family home. Instead of providing Lindquist with drugs in exchange for access to a gun safe in the home, as planned, Correa and his adopted sister, Ruth Correa, 24, fatally stabbed Lindquist and left his body in a wooded area, state police say.
State police say the siblings went to the Lindquist home, killing Lindquist’s parents, 61-year-old Janet Lindquist and 56-year-old Kenneth Lindquist, and setting the house on fire before fleeing with guns, Matthew Lindquist’s car and other items.
The state Office of the Medical Examiner recently completed its autopsy report on Matthew Lindquist, whose body was located in a wooded
area near the family home on May 5, and ruled that he died by homicide of stab wounds to the head, torso and extremities.
The medical examiner’s office had ruled previously that Mrs. Lindquist died of blunt impact injuries of the head and smoke inhalation with thermal injuries and that Mr. Lindquist died of skull fractures, epidural, subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhage, and cerebral contusion. Both of their deaths were determined to be the result of homicidal violence.
The state alleges the Correas fled the Lindquist home in Correa’s and Matthew Lindquist’s car and stopped in Glastonbury, where they torched Lindquist’s car at an apartment complex.
The state recently added a second-degree arson charge to Ruth Correa’s case in connection with the Glastonbury care fire. They had previously charged her with murder with special circumstances, three counts of felony murder, home invasion, first-degree arson and first-degree robbery. She is being held at the Janet S. York Correctional Institution and is due back in court Aug. 14. She is represented by attorney M. Fred DeCaprio from the public defender’s office and has waived her right to a probable cause hearing.