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.

Texas Officer Killed in Funeral Procession Crash

KILLEEN, Texas -- A Waynesburg native working as a police officer in Texas was killed Monday when his motorcycle collided with another vehicle while escorting a funeral procession.

Killeen police said Harker Heights Police Officer Andrew Rameas was behind the procession when a Ford Expedition turned in front of his motorcycle in the 1300 block of Stan Schlueter Loop at 12:30 p.m.

Rameas motorcycle then collided with the passenger’s side of the SUV, police said.

Rameas, 33, was pronounced dead at Scott and White Memorial Hospital at 1:12 p.m., police said.

A 9-year-old girl inside the SUV was treated for non-life threatening injuries, police said.

The 39-year-old driver of the vehicle and two 7-year-old passengers were not injured, police said.

Rameas is expected to be flown back to Waynesburg for burial.

Visitation and funeral arrangements have not yet been released.

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.