Manfredonia appears in court

Aformer University of Connecticut student charged with killing two people in Connecticut before leading police on a multistate manhunt made a brief appearance in state Superior Court in Vernon on Friday.

Peter Manfredonia, 23, has remained incarcerated since authorities arrested him in Maryland on May 27.

Authorities allege he slashed one man to death with a Samurai sword in Willington, held another man in his home at gunpoint, and then shot and killed a former Newtown classmate in Derby before kidnapping that man’s girlfriend fleeing through several states.

During Friday’s hearing, Manfredonia’s attorney agreed to the release of an ATV held by investigators has evidence in the assault in Willington.

“They’ve processed it photographed it and swabbed it for DNA,” said attorney Michael Dolan, who is representing Manfredonia in all three cases pending against him stemming from the two alleged murders and home invasion.

He declined to comment when asked how his client is doing.

The spree of violence began around 9 a.m. on May 22 in Willington.

State Police allege Manfredonia fatally attacked 62year-old Ted Demers with his sword after DeMers offered Manfredonia a ride on his four-wheeler.

Another man, John Franco, 80, was injured in the attack.

Witnesses said the assailant took off on a red Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle. Police later found the bike belonging to Manfredonia in Willington.

State police learned a “female acquaintance” of Manfredonia’s lived near the crime scene, according to the warrant for his arrest. The woman told investigators Manfredonia had an “obsession” with Samurai swords — and she had considered getting a restraining order against him after she said he hacked into her social media accounts.

Two days later, state troopers were alerted to a Ford F-150 truck found abandoned near Osbornedale State Park by Derby police.

The registration showed the truck’s owner lived not far from where Manfredonia’s motorcycle was recovered.

When police went to check on the truck’s owner at his home, they found the 73-yearold tied to a chair in the basement.

According to the warrant, the man told investigators he “woke up abruptly to a male with a gun to the back of my neck and shouting at me not to turn around or he would blow my (expletive) brains out.”

He told police Manfredonia held him hostage in his home at gunpoint for more than 24 hours, during which time they watched TV and the man said he tried to reason with his captor to turn himself in.

“I suggested that we call the authorities and work something out for him,” the homeowner told troopers, according to the warrant. “He was calm and apologetic, but couldn’t explain why he did that. I asked how old was the guy that he got into the confrontation with and he said he wasn’t that old. He said he couldn’t believe that he could do that but then his demeanor switched immediately.”

Manfredonia told the man he expected he would have “two good weeks” before the crime spree ended in either a shootout, the death penalty, or life in prison.

When Manfredonia left the home on May 24 he took the man’s guns, ammo, credit cards, cash and food in his truck after leaving him in the basement.

Soon after, Derby police found Nicholas Eisele, a former Newtown High School classmate of Manfredonia, shot dead in his Roosevelt Drive home near where the truck was abandoned.

According to the second arrest warrant against Manfredonia, Eisele’s girlfriend awoke to find the two in a tense standoff.

When the woman tried to call 911, Manfredonia “ripped” the phone out of her hand and began tussling with Eisele.

She heard gunshots and saw Eisele lying on the floor. Manfredonia has been charged with murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, first-degree assault, home invasion, first-degree kidnapping with a firearm, first-degree robbery, firstdegree larceny, two counts of first-degree stealing a firearm, and third-degree assault of an elderly person in the Willington assault and home invasion.

He also faces charges of murder, felony murder, firstdegree kidnapping, home invasion, first-degree robbery and carrying a pistol without a permit in the Derby incident.

Manfredonia has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

He is due back in court on the Willington charges Nov. 20, his attorney said, and court records show he is due to appear in Superior Court in Milford on Oct. 29 for the Derby charges.