New Haven Independent

Posted by: Jon Doe | September 14, 2009 2:05 PM

I have to ask why these rooms were not search when they brought in the dogs last week?

Posted by: k | September 14, 2009 2:23 PM

I know there are some very talented, dedicated NHPD officers, but this transfer of power back to local cops, which I know must be the law, worries me. Why is it not the Yale PD? Not enough manpower? Is a homicide case out of Yale's jurisdiction? Here's why I am nervous - a year ago another Yale grad student (School of Art) was shot during a purse-snatching attempt in East Rock. She had only a fairly-minor injury to her hand from the bullet, which went all the way through, so it wasn't such a major story. The perp got her wallet, and one of her credit cards landed in the hands of a woman who promptly used it at Shaw's. The student is the one who found this out form her credit card company. When the NHPD didn't act to follow up on the lead she gave them, the student asked the Yale Police to do so. A Yale officer knew he'd get a minor slap over it, for going off Yale's property, but he did so. He found out who that woman and her friend were, and I believe he questioned them. They were not forthcoming. One already had a criminal record, I think. Armed (bad pun) with this knowledge, the student followed up w/ the NHPD. One of the times she called, she was told that there was also a homicide that day, so the cops were busy. Another time, she was told that her detective was getting married, so his mind wasn't on her (little) case. Seriously. The NHPD never got back to her. the woman who used a stolen credit card never got arrested, to our knowledge. Really. They did do forensic testing on the bullet, which took eons, but no match - yet. She is frustrated and feels abandoned by those who are supposed to protect her/us. Had that bullet hit her not even a foot in another direction, she might have been killed on her 1st week at school. Sept. 08 might have given us Yale's first murdered student since the unsolved Jovin case. Yes, she was lucky, but that guy will strike again. What kind of a nutcase brings a loaded gun on a purse-snatching trip? That said, and speaking of nutcases, I pray this will be an open-and-shut case. This guy, like the Cheshire murders, looks like another case for having the death penalty. I do not want to pay for this monster's life in prison. I didn't know Annie, but I am sick over this senseless loss, and my heart goes out to the family and fiance. I couldn't even imagine what they must be feeling when they open their eyes each morning now, waking up to remember the nightmare that has become their reality. So so sad.

Posted by: Enough is Enough | September 14, 2009 3:04 PM

the city had well over 15 murders last year in the city MANY of them look to be unsolved. Now follow me here for a second, but i dont recall "60 detectives" assigned to any of the murders that happen in our neighborhoods. why is this one getting so much attention and i say that with respect to her family because i do feel very sad about what happen.

Posted by: Tim | September 14, 2009 5:04 PM

Maybe because this wasnt a murder of some street thug who had nothing to offer society, this was a Yale grad student a few days away from getting married. Maybe it doesnt seem fair but thats the way it is.

Posted by: anon | September 14, 2009 5:11 PM

K, that's a pretty incredible story. Maybe you should suggest that Paul Bass (of this paper) do a f/u piece on it. His email is p.bass at new haven independent dot org.

Posted by: Norton Street | September 14, 2009 6:21 PM

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2009/09/a_member_of_a_n.php

"Police have made arrests in four out of 2009's six homicides, and nabbed six other people on charges connected to murders from 2007 and 2008."

Police solve a higher percentage of cases when there a less. They have more resources to use on each case when there are fewer cases.

Tim, that's a really stupid and pointless thing to say. Just because you don't know any of the New Haven residents who have lost their lives due to gun violence doesn't automatically make them all street thugs. There is a large percentage of victims of violence who have criminal records, that much is statistaclly true, but to make an ignorant comment like that is unnecessary, so next time keep it to yourself Captain Numbnuts.

Posted by: CB | September 14, 2009 10:32 PM

Dear K-The death penalty costs way more than life in prison. google: cost life in prison vs. death penalty

Posted by: abdul mogo | September 14, 2009 10:34 PM

has somebody questioned this electrician?

Posted by: pat | September 15, 2009 11:20 AM

A tragedy for the two families. This story raised a question for me. If there is easy access to this electrical/utility area, would it be possible to move between rooms or floors via this void area? Perhaps it would be possible to gain access to the basement without one of the special ID cards.

Posted by: TXGRANNY | September 15, 2009 4:58 PM

Excellent Pat; Something to think about.

Posted by: Dot Khan | September 16, 2009 6:35 PM

If this electrical chase is like most that I've worked with, then the space isn't very large. They are basically a series of small closets above other ones on the floors below with no ceiling or floor separating them. Traveling from one floor to another is about the same as climbing inside an elevator shaft. Only if it was a large chase of about 3 or 4 feet square would it have a narrow 18" wide ladder like a fire escape ladder to use. Most are smaller.
A keycard would be needed to get to any part of the building, this would be a risky way to get to another part of the same building.

Posted by: BD | September 17, 2009 2:19 PM

The reason that NewHaven PD is taking over from Yale PD are overtime $$ and spotlight. At the beginning Newhaven doesn't even want to hear about (just a kid running away) but as soon as it's became front page then NHPD jump in. Yale PD did not have choice because Yale PD are technically Newhaven PD (Yale is not a legal city under the law)but paid by Yale for service withing Yale property. It's just "union" stuff