Suspect in murder of Bethel woman pleads not guilty

The Ohio man accused of fatally shooting a young Bethel woman he lured to a Bridgeport boat ramp waived a hearing on probable cause Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

“You piece of (expletive),” a male relative of the victim shouted from the back of the courtroom as Brandon Roberts pleaded not guilty to murder, felony murder, first-degree robbery and carrying a pistol without a permit.

Roberts asked for a jury trial.

Police said Roberts, who met 25-year-old Emily Todd on an online dating site, lured the woman to the Seaview Avenue boat ramp in Bridgeport on the evening of Dec. 8 where he shot her in the back of the head and then stole her car, credit cards and cellphone.

Standing before state Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin in a brightorange jumpsuit, the 26year-old Roberts simply told the judge “I understand,” when asked if he understood the ramifications of waiving a hearing on probable cause.

In the hearing, state prosecutors would have to present their evidence in the case to show they have probable cause to try him

for murder.

Devlin continued the case to Feb. 6.

State’s Attorney John Smriga met privately with about a dozen of Todd’s family following the court hearing. He declined comment.

The family’s lawyer, Joseph DaSilva Jr., said family members would not be commenting on the proceeding.

Todd, a therapist at the Saint Paul II Center in Danbury, was found lying face down in the sand along the shore in the morning of Dec. 9. Police said she was fully dressed and appeared to be wearing a long, blond wig. She had been shot in the back of the head and a single spent bullet shell casing was found near her feet.

Police said Todd’s mother later told detectives that her daughter had met Roberts, who was staying with relatives at a Stratford hotel, on an online dating app. After several dates, police said, Todd called off the relationship. But they said Roberts convinced Todd to meet him one more time, luring her to the area of the boat ramp.

Video surveillance later showed Roberts driving Todd’s car into the drive through at the People’s United Bank in Trumbull, where he used Todd’s debit card to withdraw $400 from Todd’s bank account, police said.

Police raided the Stratford hotel room after finding Todd’s car in the parking lot. However, they said, Roberts’ uncle told them he had left without saying goodbye.

When the uncle later called Roberts to let him know police were looking for him, police said, Roberts told the uncle “sorry unc,” and hung up.

Police said they arrested Roberts without incident at his father’s home in Shaker Heights, Ohio, on Dec. 14.

A 2002 graduate of Ansonia High School, Roberts grew up in Ansonia and Bridgeport and has family in the area.

Police said he confessed to killing Todd and to shooting another woman in Washington Park in 2017.