ATV in alleged Manfredonia killing to be released
A former 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.
The spree of violence began around 9 a.m. on May 22 in Willington.
State Police allege Manfredonia fatally attacked 62-year-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.
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-year-old 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.”
“I suggested that we call the authorities and work something out for him,” the homeowner told troopers, according to the war
rant. “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.
The woman told police Manfredonia forced her to drive him to New Jersey in her Volkswagen Jetta, eventually letting her go after he took an Uber from a truck stop near the Pennsylvania border.
Days later, police caught up with Manfredonia at another truck stop in Hagerstown, Md., and arrested him without incident.
Manfredonia has been charged with murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, first-degree assault, home invasion, firstdegree kidnapping with a firearm, first-degree robbery, first-degree 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, first-degree 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 state Superior Court in Milford on Oct. 29 for the Derby charges.