Manfredonia pleads guilty in 2nd slaying
MILFORD — Peter Manfredonia, the former University of Connecticut student accused of killing two people in 2020, pleaded guilty Thursday to killing a former Newtown High School classmate and kidnapping the man’s girlfriend during the crime spree.
The 26-year-old fatally shot Nicholas J. Eisele in his Derby apartment before kidnapping his girlfriend and forcing her to drive him to New Jersey, where she was later found safe at a rest stop.
More than 20 family and friends of Eisele and his girlfriend were in state Superior Court in Milford where Manfredonia pleaded guilty Thursday to murder and first-degree kidnapping before Judge Peter Brown.
Eisele’s family and girlfriend declined to comment after the court proceeding.
Milford State’s Attorney Margaret Kelley said in court they have all agreed to the terms of the deal, which calls for Manfredonia to be sentenced to serve 55 years in prison when he is sentenced April 19.
Eugene Riccio, a lawyer representing Eisele’s girlfriend, expressed his appreciation on behalf of his client for Kelley and the members of her staff.
“It’s a very difficult circumstance, she’s a very brave young lady,” Riccio said of his client. He said they would determine whether she would speak during Manfredonia’s sentencing later this spring.
Michael Dolan, Manfredonia’s lawyer, said his client is remorseful for his crimes and plans to “comment on the day of sentencing.”
He and his client explored various defenses. “This was Peter’s choice on how to resolve the case,” he said.
Dolan said Manfredonia had tried to get mental health treatment prior to the killings, but couldn’t because of the pandemic. He declined to comment when asked if he’s now receiving treatment.
“As you might recall, this occurred during the pandemic, it was very difficult for him to receive treatment. Getting in-person treatment was difficult, therapists weren’t taking on new clients at the beginning of the pandemic,” Dolan said, addressing reporters outside the courthouse in downtown Milford.
“I like to think but for this pandemic he would have gotten the treatment that was necessary and this all could have been avoided,” Dolan added.
Manfredonia faces 55 years in prison when he’s sentenced in April for the Derby crimes and the homicide, assault and home invasion that occurred days earlier in Willington.
Manfredonia pleaded guilty last week in a deadly samurai sword attack in Willington on May 22, 2020 that left one man dead and another seriously injured, as well as a home invasion at a nearby residence in the days before the Derby crimes.
Authorities said after Manfredonia attacked the two men with the sword, he broke into a nearby house and held the resident hostage for more than a day.
Manfredonia took the man’s guns and his Ford F-150 pickup, which he crashed in Derby near the Roosevelt Drive apartment where Eisele lived with his girlfriend.
A few hours after Derby police found the pickup, Eisele’s father, who had been trying to contact his son that morning, called 911 after going to the apartment.
“When he arrived, he found his son on the floor in a pool of blood,” Kelley said in court Thursday.
The prosecutor said surveillance footage depicted Manfredonia walking to the apartment of his high school classmate, where he had been to before, about 6 a.m. that day.
Eisele’s girlfriend later told police she had been asleep and woke up to hear Manfredonia fighting with Eisele, who told her “Please call 911, it’s Peter Manfredonia.” She retreated to a bedroom but while she was trying to call police, Manfredonia pushed his way into the room with Eisele trying to protect her.
“The defendant ripped her phone from her hands and the defendant then shot Nicholas,” Kelley said. “When (Eisele’s girlfriend) begged for the defendant to call for help, he replied ‘No, he’s dead, I shot him in the head.’ ”
Manfredonia then kidnapped the woman at gunpoint, forcing her to drive her car through several states, at one point stating “I don’t want to have to kill you,” according to Kelley.
“Do you agree with those facts as they were stated by the prosecutor?” the judge asked Manfredonia after Kelley finished speaking.
“Yes, your honor,” Manfredonia replied.
Manfredonia was eventually captured in Maryland six days after the crime spree began when a law enforcement officer recognized him by his distinctive height.
Eisele’s girlfriend later told investigators Manfredonia told her during the drive from Eisele’s apartment that the two men he attacked in Willington were not his intended target.
“Mr .Manfredonia said to her, ‘The guy on the fourwheeler was not the intended target, and the other guy just got in the way,’” Tolland State’s Attorney Matthew Gedansky said during last week’s court hearing, but he did not elaborate further.