Teen seeks insanity defense in fatal stabbing

Marcus Fisher faces murder charges in grandparents’ death

Eighteen-year-old Marcus Fisher, accused of killing his grandparents at their Montville home on Jan. 28, will go on trial in New London Superior Court next month before a threejudge panel that will decide whether he is not guilty by reason of insanity.

Fisher could be committed for up to 120 years at the Whiting Forensic Institute, the state’s hospital for the criminally insane, if two out of the three judges rule he has proven, by a preponderance of the evidence, that he lacked capacity, as a result of mental disease or defect, to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct or to control his conduct.

He’s charged with fatally stabbing his grandparents, John and Gertrude Piscezek, 76 and 77, respectively, in their home at 26 Morgan St. in Uncasville. He is charged with two counts of murder, second-degree arson and murder with special circumstances and is being held in lieu of $1 million at the Manson Youth Institution.

According to court records and testimony, he displayed signs of psychosis following his arrest, but had no criminal history or diagnosed mental illness.

His attorneys, Kevin C. Barrs and M. Fred DeCaprio, had him evaluated by a psychiatrist who is expected to testify at the trial.

The trial will take place on Oct. 30 before Judges Hillary B. Strackbein, Arthur C. Hadden and Shari A. Murphy.

Attorney Theresa Anne Ferryman is prosecuting.

According to state and town police, Fisher called 911 at 4:46 a.m. to report two dead bodies. Police entered the home and found both victims on the kitchen floor, dead of multiple stab wounds, according to police.

Fisher confessed he had gotten into an argument with his grandfather

sometime after dinner but before bed the previous night. He said he grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed his grandfather in the chest. He said his grandmother entered the room, and he stabbed her. He said he cleaned the knife, then went outside and lit a fire in an attempt to burn down the house.

Fisher, born in New London and raised in Montville until the age of 12, had been living in Minnesota prior to staying with his grandparents for several months, according to the competency report.

Barrs also said Fisher is waiving his right to a probable cause hearing, which defendants in murder cases are entitled to within 60 days of arrest.