Vernon Man Charged In Hartford Homicide
A Vernon man is behind bars after police charged him with the killing of a 38-year-old Hartford resident.
Xavier Soto, 34, is charged with murder, criminal use of a firearm, risk of injury to a child, and first-degree reckless endangerment, Hartford Police said.
Officers were called to the 300 block of Broadview Terrace around 6:50 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12, after reports of gunfire, according to Hartford police. At the scene, officers found Miguel Alfinez, who was rushed to the hospital, where he later died.
Police said Soto was “quickly identified as a suspect through an investigati…
CT Funeral Home Owner Launches Campaign To Help Victims Of Alleged $70K Vernon Funeral Scam
A group is working to help victims of an alleged Connecticut funeral scam involving a former funeral home owner accused of embezzling more than $70,000 from funds meant for burials and other services, to allegedly fuel his gambling habit.
Philip Pietras, 51, of Coventry, was arrested Sunday, April 6, and charged with first-degree larceny, according to Connecticut State Police.
Dozens of people had given Pietras money intended for escrow accounts, which would have been available to cover funeral costs when needed, police said. They later learned the money was never deposited, and now they mu…
Vernon Man Who Ran 'Drug Factory' Out Of His Home Cuffed After Months-Long Investigation: Cops
A 62-year-old man was arrested this week after a multi-jurisdictional task force arrested him for allegedly selling cocaine out of his Connecticut home, authorities said.
Daniel P. Moriarty, of Vernon, was charged with operating a drug factory, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia, officials said.
The East Central Narcotics Task Force raided Moriarty's home on Tuesday after months of investigating. They found 120 grams of cocaine, a "variety of materials" used to manufacture and distribute drugs, and $25,000 …
Armed Gas Station Robber Found Guilty In String Of Violent Hold-Up In Vernon, Across CT: DOJ
A New Haven man has been found guilty in connection with a violent robbery spree that terrorized gas station workers across Connecticut in the early days of the pandemic.
William Rosario Lopez, 39, was found guilty on multiple charges after hearing detailed evidence about a series of armed robberies that took place over just nine days in March 2020, the US Attorney for Connecticut said.
According to court testimony, Rosario Lopez stormed five gas stations —Vernon, Southington, Waterbury, Ansonia, and New Britain — threatening employees with a silver pistol. In one case, he hit a clerk…
Vernon Funeral Home Owner Stole $71K From Clients to Fund Gambling, Shopping Sprees: Police
A Connecticut funeral home owner was arrested this week after police said he embezzled $71,000 from mentally and physically disabled clients, using the funds to gamble, shop, and dine out.
Philip Pietras, 51, of Coventry, was taken into custody on Sunday, April 6, and charged with first-degree larceny, according to Connecticut State Police.
Police began investigating Pietras in October 2024 after a financial agency that manages funds for disabled adults reported discrepancies in payments sent to one of Pietras’ funeral homes.
Pietras owns four funeral homes, including Bassinger and Do…
Guilty! Vernon Woman Smuggled Workers Into US, Used Threats, Unpaid Debt To Exploit Them: DOJ
A Connecticut woman who smuggled immigrants into Connecticut and trapped them in a cycle of debt, labor, and fear has been sentenced to three years in federal prison, authorities announced.
Porfiria Maribel Ramos Sanchez, 47, a Mexican national living in Vernon, pleaded guilty to her role in a human trafficking scheme that preyed on vulnerable immigrants, including minors, the US Attorney for Connecticut said.
Investigators found that Ramos, her mother, and others smuggled at least 19 victims — many from Mexico — into the U.S., charging them up to $20,000 just to cross the border. Once in C…
Vernon Mom Killed In Crash Remembered For Her Love, Devotion To 5-Year-Old Daughter
A 23-year-old mother who died in a wrong-way crash last week is being remembered for her love of dance, country music, and her dedication to creating a bright future for her daughter.
Kelly Lynn Caldwell, 23, of Vernon, died Thursday, Jan. 18, after a wrong-way crash on Route 5/15 northbound in Hartford. She leaves behind her 5-year-old daughter, Ella Rodriguez, who family members say was the most important person in her life.
Original Report: 23-Year-Old Mom Killed In Wrong-Way Hartford Crash
The crash happened around 11:15 p.m. near Exit 90, Connecticut State Police said. Caldwell…
Vernon Mom Left 4 Young Kids Alone In 'Deplorable' Home While She Went To NY: Police (Updated)
A 40-year-old Connecticut mother is accused of leaving her four children — ages 11, 6, 4, and 3 — alone in an apartment filled with trash, feces, and filth with no food or clothing while she went to New York, authorities said.
Lindsey Powell, of Vernon in Tolland County, was arrested and charged on Monday, Nov. 18, with four counts of risk of injury to a minor, police said.
Vernon police were called to a home on Terrace Drive on Friday, Nov. 8, for a welfare check, and they found four of Powell's young children unsupervised, officials said. Three of the children were naked and th…
Teen Killed After Crashing Car Into Tree In Manchester
A 19-year-old Connecticut woman was killed over the weekend after she crashed into a tree in Hartford County, authorities announced.
Tolland County resident Makayla Theriaque, of Vernon, was identified as the victim in a Sunday evening, Aug. 25, crash in Manchester, police said.
Officers were called to 233 Buckland Hills Drive for reports of a car crashing into a tree, Manchester police said.
Paramedics rushed Theriaque, who was behind the wheel, to an area hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead.
Manchester police are investigating the crash. Authorities a…
