Accused Wilton Murderer Found Competent for Trial

WILTON - A judge ruled that the Wilton man accused of killing his own father is competent to stand trial.


Detectives say Aaron Ramsey claims he heard voices in his head when he beat and stabbed Edward Ramsey in their home last month.



His lawyer says Ramsey understands the charges against them and is able to help with his defense.



He is due back in court next month.

Wilton Man Accused of Killing Father

WILTON -- A 22-year-old Wilton man who told police he was hearing voices, was arraigned in Norwalk Friday morning for the alleged murder of his 73-year-old father.

Aaron Ramsey of 125 Signal Hill Road allegedly punched, kicked and stabbed his father, Edward Ramsey Thursday afternoon before running through the woods to escape from aliens, he told police.
Judge Bruce Hudock maintained Aaron Ramsey's bond at $1 million during an arraignment at state Superior Court in Norwalk. Ramsey appeared at the Norwalk courthouse in a blue paper jumpsuit and socks, with his hands and feet shackled. He held his head down during the brief hearing and did not speak, but began to tear up just before being led out of court by judicial marshals.

His case was transferred to Stamford where more serious cases are heard and is scheduled for his first appearance there on May 15.

Wilton police were first alerted at 3:25 p.m. Thursday when they received a report of a man in his 20s with short brown hair trying to break into a car on Cheese Spring Road. Minutes later, police received another 911 call reporting that a man matching the earlier description ran into a house on Cheese Spring Road yelling that people were chasing him. The man then laid down on the living room floor and appeared to go to sleep.

When police arrived, they found Ramsey lying on the floor semi-conscious and acting irrationally and incoherent, according to the arrest warrant. Police called paramedics who treated him, but only found minor cuts despite blood on his T-shirt, jeans and sneakers.

About 70 minutes after the burglary call, Ramsey's mother SuAnne Fehr-Ramsey called 911. When police got there they found her standing in the yard calling for Aaron. She told police that her husband was in the house bleeding and needed help.

Police found Edward Ramsey lying on a floor of a bedroom with severe traumatic injuries to his face and upper body and police noted that he was "obviously dead," in the four page arrest affidavit. A check of his vital signs determined there was no pulse and that there was no blood coming from several stab wounds to his chest, the affidavit said. He also had a "significant" injury to the left side of his head.

A ratcheting socket wrench was found on the left side of Ramsey's body and a single set of bloody footprints consistent with the sneakers Aaron Ramsey had worn to Cheese Spring Road led toward the door.

Police quickly connected Aaron Ramsey to the scene when an officer recognized him in a family photo in the kitchen of the house.

During an interview with investigators at Norwalk Hospital about two hours after Ramsey's body was found, Aaron told police that he heard voices telling him that he needed to find out who "the fakers and manipulators are" and that he had been "tasked to put people on trial."

He said he had confronted his father in his bedroom Thursday afternoon and asked him a question. Ramsey said he felt his father was lying and told him to get out of the house. When his father refused, he struck him with his right wrist, then he told police he tried to strike him with a "death blow," as he made a karate chop motion, the affidavit said.

Ramsey told police his father, a former pilot for American Airlines, never fought back.
Ramsey then picked up a bench in the bedroom and struck his father with it. While his father was knocked to the floor, Ramsey went to the kitchen to retrieve "a perfect sharp knife."
He said he then went to the bedroom and attempted to slit his father's throat, but his hand slipped off the handle due to blood and sweat. He then proceeded to stab his father in the stomach, groin, head and heart, police said.

Ramsey said he heard voices telling him to prevent his father from getting back up because "he has magic powers and can heal himself." He then told police that he stomped his father's entire body and "beat him to a pulp," the affidavit said.

Ramsey said the voices then told him "they're coming for you, you gotta run."

When police asked who was coming, Ramsey responded "aliens." He said he ran through the woods and used his mind to open a sliding glass door of a house -- evidently the one that he broke into on Cheese Spring Road -- the affidavit said.

Ramsey's public defender James Lamontagne called the incident a "true tragedy," and asked the judge that Ramsey be given mental health evaluation and treatment, which was granted.
Police said no other family members were home at the time.

The geodesic domed house is located at the end of a long driveway in a wooded area. According to land records, Edward Ramsey built the home in 1974 on the 4.5-acre wooded lot.

Neighbors in this affluent neighborhood keep to themselves. One woman who recently moved to the neighborhood said she'd recently seen the wife walking her dog.

During a morning press conference, Wilton police Chief Michael Lombardo said officers have responded to calls at the Ramsey house in the past, but would not elaborate on the nature of the calls.
During her emotional 911 call to police, SuAnne Fehr-Ramsey told police that her son had been acting strangely for more than a week and that he was "either on drugs or a little psychotic."
Ramsey is a 2008 graduate of Wilton High School where he played on the varsity football team as a place kicker.

Wilton High School Principal Robert O'Donnell said Ramsey was good student, engaged in athletics and had good friends. He said counselors were made available at the school Friday for any students who wanted to talk about the incident.

"We're a very tight-knit high school and local community," O'Donnell said.  "Our primary concern right now is with and for the Ramsey family at this very difficult time."

Ramsey has two prior convictions. He was arrested in November 2009 for possession of less than four ounces of marijuana and was found guilty. He paid a $250 fine.

In November 2011, he was arrested for driving under the influence and pleaded guilty.
Wilton police detectives and investigators from the State Police major crime squad worked throughout the night, poring over the crime scene.

It is the first murder in Wilton since the June 2008 death of 13-year-old Nicholas Parisot. Parisot died while riding his motorcycle off-road in North Wilton and struck an elevated object that police said appeared to have been placed there intentionally.

No arrest was ever made in the Parisot case.

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I believe him when he says aliens are coming for him... Have you seen that house? Lol.  Not to be too insensitive.. I mean, I do feel horrible for the family.  What a tragedy. And that kid is handsome, too.  What a shame.

Wilton Man Charged with Killing Father with a Screwdriver

(05/04/12) WILTON - Wilton police say they have arrested a man who has confessed to killing his father with a screwdriver last night.

Authorities say 22-year-old Aaron Ramsey repeatedly beat his father, then stabbed him several times before fleeing his Signal Hill Road home. They say he then entered a house on nearby Cheese Spring Road and refused to leave unless paramedics took him to the hospital.

The victim, 73-year-old Ed Ramsey, was found dead when police arrived.

Ramsey has been charged with murder and was arraigned today in Norwalk. Court documents indicate he heard voices in his head that told him to "put people on trial" and that he stabbed his father with a knife after he was already dead.

Police say Ramsey had previously been arrested for DUI and possession of marijuana.
He is being held on bond and has been ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation.

Coincidence...

What a strange coincidence.. I posted in my last entry about the 71 year old woman killed on Route 7 when her father drove her in front of a dump truck... That happened a few days ago and now I learn of *another* 71 year old dying on Route 7 Wilton after hitting a dump truck HEAD ON....This one was a man.... What are the chances, two 71 year olds...Dying after accidents with dump trucks...On the same stretch of road... And within the same week. Bonkers!!

Another small and strange detail.. A witness who was interviewed in that article was also 71. What the french?

-Check out video *here*-

HIATUS

I've taken quite a hiatus haven't I? I Don't thik there's anyone out there anyway who takes interest in my blog.. But I don't care... This is *my* vault of memories...

I think this has been quite the summer for local shocking news... Especially in the Stamford and Greenwich areas.

I'm going to sit back and reminisce, try to catch up on any noteworthy news..

Earliest local news that comes to mind was a few months back when a 2 year old, Massimo Furano and his grandmother, Anna S. Furano, were found drowned in their koi pond over on Fox's Lane in Greenwich...Very tragic.

Joe Schiano, who was slightly younger than me and had mutual friends in common with me, passed away after serving two terms in the Marines.. Unfortunatley he died in a car accident in New York after returning from duties.

I believe a few days after that I learned of a car with two women driving on I-95 in Cos Cob over the Mianus Bridge... A bolt fell off of a dump truck in front of their car, and it flew threw the window into the passenger's head, killing her. Can you imagine?

As the summer goes on all you hear about, sadly, is all the murders in Bridgeport, Stamford and Norwalk... Then, more noticible news again out of Stamford- on Bedford Street behind the diner (very close to an apartment I work sometimes) was found a 39 year old man hanging from a tree in the back part of the parking lot.

Close in time to that was another suicide of a 2o year old Stamford junior volunter firefighter, his body found in a Belltown grass field.

Jasmine Brown, an inspiring fashion designer from NY was high on PCP, climbed a tree naked and fell out of it, killing herself. Imagine that horrible scene..

In a bit of national news- as we all know, over the weekend a helicopter full of Navy Seals (3o) was shot down. One of them, Brian Bill, was from Stamford. Thank you for paying the ultimate price while fighting for our country....

A 92 year old man, trying to park in a handicapped spot, accidently floored his Honda, plowing threw a pole and proceeding to crash 20 feet into Cafe Oo La La on Summer Street (Ridgeway Shopping Center), sending people flying all over the place. Miracously no one was killed, but a baby and a pregnant woman were injured in all the mess. Thus sparks the debate again on modifying driving conditions for elderly drivers. Is it really all that hard for the DMV to put in place a system where the eldery driver would have a simulated road test say at the person's physician's office or even at the DMV itself? God forbid we spent any on insuring people can stay safe on the roads and keep clear of crazy old grandpa who's too proud and dementiated to take himself off the road. They are actually charging him ... Not sure for what but good for them! His family shouldn't have let him drive.

The next day, which I believe was Tuesday, I heard of a poor woman on route in Wilton who must've not even seen it coming when a dump truck hit her Ford Taurus, killing her and injuring three others (including a six year old) in the car. The car pulled out from a church, right into the path of the dump truck that couldn't stop in time. The driver of that car was 91, and was the victim's father. Her grandaughter was next to her, and probably saw her die.

Why did these people have the grandfather drive??? He could've killed his six year old grandaughter as well...Bad enough now he has to live knowing he killed his daughter. Sad and tragic, shouldn't have happened.

This morning I read that a car hit into a construction site, killing the driver, a 23 year old Greenwich resident, Michael Defruscio. Two years younger than I am, but I do not recognize the name..

It's sad but true that most news we hear of is depressing and negative, but if it wasn't something so shocking it wouldn't be newsworthy. There is some news lately that's been amusing and some news that actually is postive.

A month or two ago a mountain lion was spotted in Greenwich, and then a few days later found dead in Milford on the turnpike. It was found out that the mounatin lion had actually migrated from North Dakota, something that was unheard of for mountain lions until now! Apparently there were two new sightings this past Sunday... So are there more or what??

Here's a picture of my Uncle Mike, middle, on duty and it looks like he's with a search for the lion. (lol)

Remember Charla Nash, the poor woman who had her face pretty much torn off by that ape in backcountry Stamford? She succesfully completed a 20 hour facial transplant a few days ago, and unveiled her new face for all to see in both national and local articles. Good for you, Charla!

Three Years Later, Parisot Homicide Investigation Continues

WILTON -- Nearly three years after teenager Nicholas Parisot was killed while riding his motorized bike on a wooded trail near Hickory Hill and Hillbrook roads, the homicide investigation continues, according to Lt. Donald Wakeman of the Wilton Police Department.

On June 13, 2008, Parisot struck a rope tied to trees across the trail, causing traumatic injuries to his neck and body that killed the teenager -- 15 days shy of his 14th birthday.

Because of the nature of the incident -- friends then and now say Parisot knew those trails better than most people know their backyards -- the case was treated as a homicide.

So far, the investigation has yielded a suspect, according to police, but not an arrest.

"There are no new leads or breaks, and nothing new to report at this time," Wakeman said Wednesday. "The case is still open. We're still talking to the same people, we're still in contact with the Parisot family, we're still in contact with the prosecutor's office. We're still trying to further develop certain pieces of information and hope to develop those into an arrest warrant application, and ultimately get approval for our arrest warrant application."

Wakeman said his department's focus in the case remains constant. He also said the prosecutor's office is willing to review any and all new evidence Wilton detectives can muster.

"We haven't been formally denied for the arrest warrant," Wakeman said. "The application was reviewed by the prosecutor's office, and they are asking for further information. We were never formally denied. Our suspect remains the same, and we're actively seeking more information on that suspect. At this point, we have one suspect we're seeking an arrest warrant for."

A lack of cooperation from a minority of people close to the case has prevented police from getting all the information they need, Wakeman said.

"I can't comment specifically on any families," Wakeman said. "The vast majority of the families involved have been extremely helpful, but not every person has been helpful. It's their right not to talk. People don't need to answer our questions. More than one person involved with this case has done that, unfortunately."

Parisot's mother, Kate Throckmorton, agrees with Wakeman's assessment.

"This crime remains unsolved because the authorities have not gotten full cooperation from at least two families in Wilton," Throckmorton wrote in a letter to the editor. "The state's attorney's office needs one family in particular to provide additional cooperation, but they refuse. We know who they are and where they live."

Throckmorton said those involved, now underage, will not be protected forever.

"The authorities have assured us that this case will not fade away or go cold," Throckmorton wrote. "Criminal homicides do not expire. The on-going secrecy surrounding this case will continue to haunt our family, our friends and our community until the truth is extricated, as it eventually will be. The people of interest in this investigation remain minors and are currently allowed extra protection under the law. That will not always be the case."

Like most people that have followed this case, Wakeman has a difficult time believing that no arrest has been made this long after such a heinous crime was committed.

"Obviously we're frustrated at a law-enforcement level, and we're frustrated for the Parisot family," Wakeman said. "I don't think anyone anticipated this case would still be open at the three-year mark. We remain confident we will obtain the information needed to obtain the arrest warrant."

In 2009, Parisot's parents, Wilton residents Rick Parisot and Throckmorton, of 274 Nod Hill Road, filed a civil suit against Glenn and Barbara Knight, formerly of Wilton, and their son, a minor, claiming the "willful and malicious conduct" of the minor caused the death of Nicholas Parisot.

The civil suit, which seeks more than $15,000 in damages, alleges the Knight's son "strung a rope across a trail in the area of the woods to the rear of his family's property." The court document claims the pre-teen "tied the rope to two trees on each side of the trail to create a sudden and unavoidable blockage of the trail, creating a dangerous condition on the trail that he knew was likely to cause physical injury to persons riding motorized bikes on the trail."

Last January, the Knights responded to the allegations, by way of special defense, stating "injuries or damages were proximately caused by the negligence of the plaintiffs decedent Nicholas R. Parisot at said time and place he failed to keep a proper lookout." The court documents also claim Parisot "failed to keep his motorized bike under reasonable and proper control, he was operating his motorized bike at an excessive or unreasonable rate of speed for the conditions and he failed to exercise reasonable for his own safety under all the circumstances then and there existing."

The civil suit is still pending in Stamford Superior Court.

According to the Town of Wilton, Glenn and Barbara Knight sold their home at 97 Hickory Hill Road on March 2, 2010, for $1,030,000 and moved to Placentia, Calif.

Boy, 12, Shoots and Kills Friend Inside Saratoga County Home

WILTON -- A 12-year-old accidentally shot and killed his friend, also 12, inside a Wilton home on Wednesday, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff James Bowen said the boy was handling his father's handgun when it went off, shooting the other boy, identified as Nicholas Naumkin, in the head.

Saratoga County District Attorney James Murphy said the boys believed the gun was not loaded.

Naumkin was rushed to Albany Medical Center where he died late Wednesday night.

Both were students at the Maple Avenue Middle School in the Saratoga Springs City School District. Principal Stuart Byrne is putting together the school's crisis team.

It’s unclear whether the shooter will return to school.

“Nothing we do will bring this family their son back, but we owe it to them to thoroughly investigate this case and that is what Sheriff Bowen and I intend to do,” Murphy said in a media release. “He and I and our staff will be working over the holiday weekend in order to make sure that every aspect of this case is examined and that we come to a conclusion on how to proceed as quickly and efficiently as possible."

Murphy said the boy and his parents are cooperating with the Sheriff's Department.

In a phone conversation with CBS 6, Naumkin's mother said her son was "amazing," a gentle and polite boy who had many friends and was always interested in talking with other people.

Mrs. Naumkin said Nicholas was creative and artistic, and wanted to be an actor like his father Yuri, who was famous in Moscow in the late 1970s before he emigrated to Brooklyn.

Nicholas was born in Brooklyn, but the family decided to move up to Saratoga Springs four and a half years ago because they loved visiting the town: "It was beautiful and safe," said Mrs. Naumkin. "We wanted to get away from all that in Brooklyn," she said, referring to guns and shootings.

Nicholas had just gone to his first school dance earlier this month, said his mother. And he was constantly there for his 7-year-old mildly autistic brother. "He was always there for him," she said. "He would read books to him."

Mrs. Naumkin said she had not yet spoken to the parents of the other boy and that she did not think she would be able to for some time. "My heart goes out to them because they're suffering, too," she said, but she was angry the gun was not properly secured and stored away.

Family members were arriving from across the country to support the Naumkins. Mrs. Naumkin said they still have not notified their families in Russia of Nicholas's death.

"I don't know what to say," Mrs. Naumkin said tearfully. "I'm just numb."

Arson Not Ruled Out in Fatal Wilton Fire

I know this is news from last year, but it's worth publishing now. Star Inc. is an agency similiar to the one I work for (and close by), and it's very unfortunate that this had happened, this feels so close to home..

The Hour- The Wilton fire marshal called in state police detectives to investigate the fire that trapped and killed two mentally handicapped residents of a condominium at 11 Village Walk Saturday at around 7:55 a.m., State Police spokesman Lt. Paul Vance said Sunday.

The detectives would investigate the possibility of arson and help Wilton Fire Marshal David Kohn determine the origin of the blaze, Vance said.

As of Sunday evening, Wilton fire and police were not commenting on the cause of the fire or identifying the two victims.

However, The Hour has identified Cynthia Timmins and her male roommate as having been the two victims found dead or unconscious in the burning building.

One of the two had passed out in a stairway outside of apartment 11 but died at Norwalk Hospital a short time later. The other was pronounced dead at the scene after being located near the bedroom doorway, according to Kohn.

Timmins' had no relation to the male victim other than that the two were roommates. Both were clients of STAR, a Norwalk organization devoted to bettering the lives of people with developmental disabilities, according to neighbors and co-workers.

Through a STAR-run job placement program, Timmins worked in the produce department at the Village Market, 108 Old Ridgefield Road, for the past eight years. Peter Keating, owner of the market, said he grew up with Timmins and eagerly accepted her as an employee when the job placement program was still being piloted because of their ... (pay article, rest here)

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UPDATE: Two perish in early-morning condominium fire

WILTON -- The two people who died in a condominium fire on Saturday were known as a "loving couple who brought joy to everyone they encountered."

Cynthia Timmins, 54, and Dana Conley, 57, an engaged, mentally-challenged couple who lived at 11 Village Walk, died of smoke inhalation after being trapped in Saturday's blaze at their condominium complex, officials said.

"The loss of life at this fire has been a shock to the Wilton community," said Fire Chief Paul Milositz in a statement. "Our sincerest sympathies go out to the families of both Cynthia and Dana."

Timmins and Conley were clients of STAR Inc., a Norwalk organization devoted to bettering the lives of people with developmental disabilities.

"The STAR family is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our dear friends," said executive director Katie Banzhaf in a statement. "They lived a life rich in friendships and opportunity."

STAR released a story on Thursday recounting the couple's life together. It said the two had been friends for years before becoming a couple, and became engaged on Valentine's Day this year.

The story said Conley had obtained a ring for Timmins but it was being sized and hadn't returned before the fire.

"Cynthia did not get to wear her ring in this life, but she will take it with her on the new adventure that the two have embarked upon together," the story read.

The fire department has no updates on what caused the fire, which began at the complex around 8 a.m. on Saturday morning, but officials believe it began between the kitchen and dining area.

The department has not ruled out arson as a possible cause, and Wilton Fire Marshal David Kohn called in state police detectives last weekend to investigate.

"We'll be sorting through all this information and communicating with other investigators and see what we can turn up in the next day or so, hopefully," he said Thursday.

He said it could possibly be the first multiple-death fire in Wilton and the only fatal fire in Wilton in more than 15 years.

One resident, who lived downstairs from Timmins and Conley, was rescued by a firefighter who carried her out of the burning building, according to her son, Dennis D'Amato.

D'Amato said his mother, 86-year-old Marion D'Amato, was not harmed but her unit would be uninhabitable for some time.

Kohn said residents of the two adjoining units to No. 11 are not permitted back inside yet because of the smoke and water damage to their condominiums.

Timmins worked in the produce department at the Village Market for the past eight years through a STAR-run job placement program.

Peter Keating, owner of the market, said he grew up with Timmins and eagerly accepted her as an employee when the job placement program was still being piloted because of their long-time friendship.

After his family moved to Wilton in 1969, the two shared bus rides to the Wilton Junior High School, Keating said, and knowing her was a blessing to him during some painful and difficult adolescent years.

"We sat next to each other on the bus. They would make fun of her. They would make fun of me, too," Keating said. "But she didn't change very much over the years. She was always very open and trusting and thought only the best of people . . . She had struggles that the rest of us have, and she had her special struggles."

Dana Conley was employed by the Schulhof Animal Hospital through the STAR program for more than 20 years and most recently worked for the City of Norwalk.

Kristin Hawkins, who worked with Conley at the animal hospital, said she was devastated when she heard he had died.

"He was amazing," she said. "Every morning he would come up and say, what'd you have for dinner last night?"

Hawkins said asking detailed questions about dinner was his trademark and how he started every day.

"He was super friendly and always cheerful," she said.

Hawkins also said he was a very dedicated worker and whenever someone asked him to do something "he was always there."

A memorial service will be held on March 7 at 2 p.m. at St. Paul's on the Green in Norwalk.

Henry Lee: Evidence in Parisot Case Taken as Far as Science Will Allow

WILTON -- Scientifically, nothing more can be done with forensic evidence in the Nicholas Parisot homicide, according to Wilton Police.

Forensic scientist Henry Lee, founder and professor of the Forensic Science Program at the University of New Haven, was recently brought in to review all reports and forensic evidence in the Wilton homicide case, said Chief Michael Lombardo of the Wilton Police Department.

"We have been in constant contact with Dr. Henry Lee and his associates in the past couple months," said Lombardo. "He has reviewed the case and determined that there's nothing further we can do with this evidence, scientifically, at this point. He told us that we have taken the evidence as far as science will allow."

Nearly two years ago -- June 13, 2008 -- Parisot, 13, was riding his motorized bike on a trail in a wooded area near Hickory Hill and Hillbrook roads and struck a rope strung across the trail. He suffered severe injuries to his neck and body, resulting in his death shortly thereafter. Wilton police labeled the case a criminal homicide, but have yet to bring charges against anyone.

Lee has assisted in more than 6,000 investigative cases, including the O.J. Simpson case, review of the JFK assassination and the death of JonBenet Ramsey, according to his website, www.drhenrylee.com.

Wilton Police Lt. Donald Wakeman said the department brought in Lee because he is widely known as an excellent forensic scientist throughout the state and the country. Lee was also the director of the Connecticut State Police Forensic Science Laboratory, said Wakeman.

"Because of Dr. Lee's connection with many personnel in Connecticut, we were able to request him to look at our case," said Wakeman. "We were very happy he was willing to look over all of the evidence."

Wakeman said that Lee, the FBI forensic lab and the state forensic lab have all thoroughly reviewed all of the evidence that was collected from the crime scene and all reports involving the case.

"We know that Dr. Lee, the FBI and the state have all thoroughly looked over every bit of evidence we have," said Wakeman. "And Dr. Lee has concurred, along with the other labs, that there isn't anything more we can do with this forensic evidence."

According to Wakeman, police still have the same suspect in the case, and the department is continuing to pursue information that will enable an arrest to be made.

"At this point, there is not any new information to report," said Wakeman. "The case remains a top priority and is still open."

Last June, Nicholas Parisot's parents, Wilton residents Rick Parisot and Katherine Throckmorton, of 274 Nod Hill Road, filed a civil suit against Glenn and Barbara Knight, formerly of Wilton, and their 12-year-old son, claiming the "willful and malicious conduct" of the 12-year-old caused the death of Nicholas Parisot.

The civil suit, which seeks more than $15,000 in damages, alleges the 12-year-old male "strung a rope across a trail in the area of the woods to the rear of his family's property." The court document claims the pre-teen "tied the rope to two trees on each side of the trail to create a sudden and unavoidable blockage of the trail, creating a dangerous condition on the trail that he knew was likely to cause physical injury to persons riding motorized bikes on the trail."

On Jan. 11, the Knights responded to the allegations, by way of special defense, stating "injuries or damages were proximately caused by the negligence of the plaintiffs decedent Nicholas R. Parisot at said time and place he failed to keep a proper lookout." The court documents also claim Parisot "failed to keep his motorized bike under reasonable and proper control, he was operating his motorized bike at an excessive or unreasonable rate of speed for the conditions and he failed to exercise reasonable for his own safety under all the circumstances then and there existing."

The civil suit is still pending in Stamford Superior Court.

According to the Town of Wilton, Glenn and Barbara Knight sold their home at 97 Hickory Hill Road on March 2 for $1,030,000 and moved to Placentia, Calif. 

Defense Claims Parisot's Death Caused by His Own 'Negligence'

WILTON -- A Wilton family is claiming that the death of Nicholas Parisot was likely caused by his own negligence and not by the "willful and malicious conduct" of a 12-year-old member of that family.

This past June, Wilton residents Rick Parisot and Katherine Throckmorton, of 274 Nod Hill Road, filed a civil suit against Glenn and Barbara Knight and their 12-year-old son, all of 97 Hickory Hill Road, claiming the 12-year-old caused the death of their son, Nicholas Parisot.

On the afternoon of June 13, 2008, 13-year-old Parisot, 13, was riding his motorized bike on a trail in a wooded area near Hickory Hill and Hillbrook roads and struck a rope strung across the trail. Parisot suffered severe fatal injuries to his neck and body, resulting in his death shortly thereafter. Wilton police labeled the case a criminal homicide, but have yet to bring charges against anyone.

The civil suit, which seeks damages in excess of $15,000, alleges the 12-year-old male "strung a rope across a trail in the area of the woods to the rear of his family's property." The court document states the pre-teen "tied the rope to two trees on each side of the trail to create a sudden and unavoidable blockage of the trail, creating a dangerous condition on the trail that he knew was likely to cause physical injury to persons riding motorized bikes on the trail."

The Knights, through their attorney Kevin Murphy, responded to the allegations on Jan. 11.

"If the plaintiffs sustained any injuries or damages as are alleged in their complaint, said injuries or damages were proximately caused by the negligence of the plaintiffs' decedent Nicholas R. Parisot at said time and place he failed to keep a proper lookout," the court document reads.

The paperwork also states that Parisot "failed to keep his motorized bike under reasonable and proper control, he was operating his motorized bike at an excessive or unreasonable rate of speed for the conditions ... and he failed to exercise reasonable for his own safety."

According to David Golub, Rick Parisot and Throckmorton's attorney, this is an outrageous defense.

"Nick Parisot was literally ambushed on the trail. There is no basis to say that the victim was negligent," said Golub. "He (the 12-year-old defendant) refuses to testify, he claims he wasn't there. If he wasn't there, how does he know that Nick wasn't negligent?"

The Knights also filed a motion for a protective order on Nov. 5 and again on Jan. 11. According to the court documents, the protective order was issued "to protect the defendant, including but not limited to protect the constitutional rights" (of the defendant). The motion also stated "the court in this matter must grant the protective order filed in this case to preserve the defendant's Fifth Amendment rights."

The Knights and their attorney did not return calls for this story.

According to Rob Peragine, an attorney at the East Hartford-based Adler Law Group, LLC, which specializes in personal injury and wrongful death suits, there are many reasons someone would file a protective order in a civil suit. In this case, the Knights likely filed a protective order so the 12-year-old would not have to testify specific information in civil court that would be incriminating, said Peragine, who is not involved in the Parisot suit.

"If someone makes a statement in a civil court, they are under oath and anything said can be used against you," he said.

According to Lt. Donald Wakeman of the Wilton Police Department, the case is currently open and is still being actively investigated. He has said that officers have interviewed numerous adults and children in the case, and the Knight family was included in those interviews.

Wakeman said Wednesday that pertinent information has been developed that points towards a specific suspect, and the department will continue to pursue information that will enable an arrest to be made, no matter how long that takes.

"This case is still open and still being investigated. There is nothing new to report on as of right now," said Wakeman on Wednesday. "The department considers the investigation (to be) far too important to close out prior to an arrest being made. However, beyond that, we feel an obligation to the family of Nicholas Parisot, to provide them some degree of closure by following through with an arrest."

The Parisot family could not be reached for this story.

Suit Charges Wrongful Death in Wilton Teen's Fatal Motorcycle Ride

STAMFORD -- A wrongful death suit has been filed by the parents of Nicholas Parisot, a 13-year-old Wilton boy killed last year when he struck a rope strung between two trees while riding his motorcycle on a dirt trail.

The suit was filed earlier this summer by Katherine Throckmorton and Ricardo Parisot against a Wilton couple whose son they allege tied the rope; it claims damages in excess of $15,000.
On Sept. 4, defendants Barbara and Glenn Knight, of 97 Hickory Road, Wilton, filed an answer to the complaint denying all allegations. Their attorney, Kevin Murphy, of Bridgeport, did not return calls seeking comment.

The complaint filed by Parisot's attorney, David Golub, said that a private investigation places blame for the fatal accident on the Knights' 12-year-old son.

James Bernardi, supervisory assistant state's attorney in Stamford, said that a criminal investigation of the death is still ongoing and no arrests have been made.

Bernardi said investigators could obtain any depositions or other publicly available information turned up during the civil case for use in a future criminal proceeding.

Golub said that depositions with Barbara and Glenn Knight, their 12-year-old son and his brother have been scheduled for later this month.

On June 13, 2008, Nicholas Parisot was riding his Honda dirt bike on a North Wilton trail when he struck a rope, which police believe was intentionally tied across the path. A rope was seized at the scene, along with other evidence, police said soon after the accident.

In what police call a criminal homicide, Parisot died of his neck injuries suffered on the trail.
Parisot's parents said his death was caused by negligence because the Knights should have known their son was placing "traps" on the trail and failed to supervise their son's activities, the complaint said.

Golub said that his investigation of the incident was wide-ranging.

"We conducted an investigation of many different sources, including people who had info about what happened and people who had spoken to the Knights. We were aware of the info from Wilton police. We also met with police and prosecutors, and from all those sources, we put together the information that is in the complaint," Golub said.

In the complaint, Golub said Nicholas and other youths for years had ridden the trails in a wooded property next to the Knights' Hickory Road home.

He said the Knights' son knew that and "decided to set a trap across the trail."

On June 11, the Knights' son and a friend took a rope from his home and tied over the trail between two trees behind his family's house, the complaint states. The two took the rope down when no one passed by.

Two days later, the Knights' son, this time alone, tied the rope between the trees, according to the complaint, Parisot was riding on the trail and suffered the fatal injuries.

After the accident, the complaint said the Knights' son picked up one piece of the rope that was severed during the incident and took it away. Police have said they found another length of rope at the scene.

When he was interviewed by police, the 12-year-old tried to conceal his involvement by giving false statements about his actions with the rope on June 11 and 13, the complaint said.

Champion Mountain Biker Jailed in Huge Pot Bust

WTEN- Missy Giove, a retired world champion downhill mountain biker, is facing charges of conspiracy with intent to distribute hundreds of pounds of marijuana.

She and two others are in custody, following an investigation began in Illinois and ended in the Saratoga County town of Wilton.

Altogether, the Drug Enforcement Agency seized more than $1,000,000 in cash and close to 400 pounds of marijuana. The drugs alone have a street value of about $250,000.

Before her retirement in 2003, Giove, nicknamed "The Missile", was one of the most successful downhill mountain bikers in the world. Now, she faces an uphill battle against federal prosecutors and drug conspiracy charges.

Court documents detail how police tracked down Giove, who is from Virginia, in Wilton earlier this week.

Giove landed at the Albany International Airport Tuesday morning, days after another woman was arrested during a traffic stop in Illinois. That woman was driving a truck and trailer with more than 200 pounds of marijuana on its way to the Albany area.

Law enforcement picked the delivery up from there.

Back at the airport, police watched Giove get into a taxi, go to a nearby Hilton hotel and pick up the truck and trailer from a police informant. They say the trailer belonged to Giove.

Giove then drove to Wilton, where she dropped off the informant at a book store.

According to police, Giove then went across the street to a Hannaford parking lot to meet with Eric Canori, a Wilton resident, and the two drove to his house. Authorities add that some of the contents from the trailer were unloaded there and then Giove drove off.

Police finally stopped her in Saratoga Lake, found marijuana in the trailer and she was arrested

A police search of Canori's house yielded the $1,000,000 in cash and more than 150 pounds of marijuana.