Homicide of Floyd W. Ellis, Jr. - Sharon - September 2004

David Shepack, State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Litchfield, and Connecticut State Police announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information resulting in a conviction in a 2004 homicide in the Town of Sharon.

The reward is being offered for information in the death of FLOYD W. ELLIS, JR., whose body was found submerged in the Webatuck Creek in Sharon on September 24, 2004, after he had been reported missing on September 21, 2004.

Investigators from the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Unit have interviewed more than 100 individuals in connection with the homicide and are seeking additional cooperation of witnesses.

The reward was authorized by Governor M. Jodi Rell at the request of State’s Attorney Shepack. $50,000 is the maximum reward allowed under state law.

Anyone with information in the homicide of Mr. Ellis should contact the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Unit at 860-824-2500. Calls may be kept confidential.

Homicide of Maria Laura Capon Bravo Rojas - New Milford - September 2004

The State of Connecticut is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to a conviction in the homicide of a woman who was found slain in her family’s New Milford business on September 15, 2004.

The reward for information leading to the killer of MARIA LAURA CAPON BRAVO ROJAS was authorized by Governor M. Jodi Rell and announced today by David Shepack, State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Litchfield, and Chief Colin D. McCormack of the New Milford Police Department.

The body of Mrs. Rojas was discovered on the floor of the business she operated with her husband, David’s Flooring at 441 Danbury Road in New Milford on September 15, 2004.

Mrs. Rojas was killed by multiple blows to the head and shoulder. The weapon has not been recovered. Despite an intensive investigation, authorities have not identified the person or persons responsible for the crime.

State’s Attorney Shepack and Chief McCormack stated that they believe the issuance of a reward may assist the investigation by motivating witnesses to come forth with information.

Anyone with information in the homicide of Maria Laura Capon Bravo Rojas should contact the New Milford Police Department at 860-355-2000 or the Office of the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Litchfield at 860-567-0871.

Homicide of Gertrude (Trudy) Ochankowski - East Hampton - January 1998

Timothy J. Liston, State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Middlesex, and Chief Matthew A. Reimondo of the East Hampton Police Department announced that Governor M. Jodi Rell has authorized an increase in the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death of GERTRUDE (TRUDY) OCHANKOWSKI to an amount not to exceed $50,000, the maximum allowed by law. State’s Attorney Liston and Chief Reimondo expressed their appreciation to Governor Rell for her action and her continued commitment to the victims of crime and their families.

{A $50,000 rward is offered for information in the death of Gertrude (Trudy) Ochankowski.} Gertrude Ochankowski was a long time resident of East Hampton. She is survived by two loving daughters and is fondly remembered by her family and friends. Trudy Ochankowski was last seen alive on January 11, 1998. Her motor vehicle was found running in front of 82 Main Street, East Hampton, where she had patronized a Laundromat. On the afternoon of January 12, 1998, Ms. Ochankowski’s body was found in a stream off Tartia Road in East Hampton. An autopsy was performed by Chief Medical Examiner H. Wayne Carver, II, M.D., who determined that the cause of death was strangulation.

An intensive investigation was conducted by the East Hampton Police Department with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police Eastern District Major Crime Squad and the Department of Public Safety Forensic Science Laboratory. East Hampton Police devoted countless hours and resources to the investigation and continue to vigorously pursue any leads. Ms. Ochankowski’s daughters also went to great lengths to determine who was responsible for their mother’s senseless death. Despite all of these efforts no arrest has been made.

As the tenth anniversary of Ms. Ochankowski’s unsolved homicide approached, State’s Attorney Liston applied to Governor Rell for an increase in the Offer of Reward from the $30,000 authorized in December 2000. State’s Attorney Liston and Chief Reimondo believe that the increase in the reward will renew public interest and awareness of the tragic death of Ms. Ochankowski and that individuals with information will be prompted to come forward.

The public is advised not to underestimate the significance of what they may know and not to assume that law enforcement must already possess that information. Sometimes a small piece of information may be the key to assist investigators to solve a case and to achieve a successful prosecution.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the East Hampton Police Department at 20 High Street, East Hampton, CT 06424; telephone number 860-267-9922 or 860-267-9544; fax number 860-267-4208.

Homicide of Agnieszka (Agnes) Ziemlewski - Farmington - September 1998

A $50,000 reward is authorized in the September 1998 homicide of AGNIESZKA (AGNES) ZIEMLEWSKI. On September 24, 1998, Ms. Ziemlewski, age 26, was found shot to death on a walking trail on the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) Reservoir property near Old Mountain Road in Farmington. {Agneiszka (Agnes) Ziemlewski was found shot to death on the MDC Reservoir property near Old Mountain Road in Farmington on September 24, 1998}

Even after hundreds of interviews with witnesses and friends and co-workers of both Agnes, as well as a reward of $50,000 being offered by the State of Connecticut, no arrest has been made.

Agnes emigrated to this country from Poland with her family in the early 1980s. She had lived in Hartford with her parents and two sisters before moving to an apartment of her own in West Hartford. Agnes graduated from the University of Connecticut and was working at United Health Care in Hartford at the time of her death. Agnes' father passed away in September of 1999 without his daughter's killer being arrested.

Anyone with any information regarding this case is urged to call the Farmington Police Department Detective Unit at 860-675-2462 or 860-675-2460 or the Cold Case Unit at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney at 860-258-5800. Or follow this link to email the Cold Case Unit of the Chief State's Attorney's Office or call the Tip Line at 860-548-0606 or toll-free at 1-866-623-8058. All calls will be kept confidential.

Homicides of Champaben Patel - Anita Patel - March 1996 - Windsor

On March 21,1996, the bodies of Champaben Patel and her daughter Anita were found in their family home in Windsor. Champaben Patel had been strangled and her body burned. Anita had been stabbed and her body burned. {Anita Patel was murdered in Windsor on March 21, 1996.} {Champaben Patel was murdered in Windsor on March 21, 1996.}

In March 2006, Governor M. Jodi Rell authorized a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the slayings.

Investigators believe Champaben Patel was killed first, in the bedroom of her home. They further suspect that Anita Patel and her two children arrived at the house while the attack was occurring, and that Anita told the children, then ages 3 and 5, to leave the house.

The children ran from the house and were found by a woman walking to her mailbox, who called the police.

Anita Patel was stabbed in the kitchen of the house. Gasoline was poured around her body and set afire. Although she had been stabbed a total of 14 times, an autopsy determined that she died of smoke inhalation.

The case is being investigated by the Cold Case Unit of the Chief State's Attorney's Office. Connecticut investigators are consulting with the Vidocq Society, a group of forensic experts who contribute their time and expertise in unsolved cases.

Follow this link to e-mail the Cold Case Unit of the Chief State's Attorney's Office with information or a tip about the case of Champaben Patel and Anita Patel or call the tip line at 860-548-0606 or toll-free at 1-866-623-8058. All calls and e-mails will be kept confidential.

Homicide of Thera Wilson, also known as Theresa Wilson and Mona Williams - January 1997 - Hartford

On Friday, January 14, 1977, the body of Therea Wilson , age 26, was found in the garage of the then-Statler Hilton Hotel at 10 Ford Street in Hartford. The victim, also known as Thera Wilson , Theresa Wilson and Mona Williams, had been stabbed to death. At the time of her death, the victim had been engaged in prostitution. {Thera Wilson, also known as Theresa Wilson and Mona Wilson}

In 1977 numerous leads were pursued by the Hartford Police Department , all with negative results. In April of 1977, Governor Ella Grasso authorized a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Ms. Williams death. The reward was increased to $50,000 in November 2006 by Governor M. Jodi Rell at the request of James E. Thomas, then State's Attorney for the Judicial District of Hartford.

In March of 2006, at the request of the Hartford Police Department, the case was re-opened with the assistance of the Cold Case Unit of the Office of the Chief State's Attorney.

Anyone with information is requested to call the tip line at the Office of the Chief State's Attorney at 860-548-0606, toll-free at 1-866-623-8058 or e-mail the Cold Case Unit of the Chief State's Attorney's Office by following this link. All calls and e-mails will be kept confidential.

Homicide of Joseph Mackanesi - Stratford - July 28, 1990 - $5,000 Reward

The Town of Stratford is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the homicide of Joseph Mackanesi.

{Joseph Mackanesi was fatally shot in Stratford on July 28, 1990.} On July 28, 1990, at approximately 2:00 a.m. Mr. Mackanesi, age 32, flagged down a police patrol car near the intersection of Soundview and Barnum Avenues in Stratford.

Mr. Mackanesi reported that he had been shot by two black males that had attempted to rob him. Mr. Mackanesi was transported to the hospital where he later expired. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that the cause of death was a gunshot wound.

Mr. Mackanesi was employed in the local area as a truck driver and food salesman prior to his death.

If you think you know this individual or can provide any information about this incident:

• Call the Stratford Police Department at 203-385-4100.
• Call the Cold Case Unit tip line at 860-548-0606 or toll-free at 1-866-623-8058.
• Write to the Cold Case Unit, P.O. Box 962, Rocky Hill, CT 06067
• Or you can follow this link to email the Cold Case Unit in the Office of the Chief State's Attorney.

Homicide of {Julieanne Miller - Reported missing September 29, 1982} Julieanne Miller - September 1982 - Old Saybrook

On September 29, 1982, Julieanne Miller was reported missing to the Old Saybrook Police Department by her father, who is now deceased.

Ms. Miller was last seen at her residence in the company of her boyfriend on September 22, 1982. She is presumed dead but her body has not been recovered.

The State of Connecticut is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case.

Follow this link to e-mail the Cold Case Unit of the Chief State's Attorney's Office with information or a tip about the case of Julieanne Miller. All communications will be kept confidential. Or call the Cold Case Unit Tip Linetoll-free at 1-866-623-8058 or at 860-548-0606 in the Hartford area.

Homicide of Leah Ulbrich - October 1995 - Hartford/Wethersfield {Leah Ulbrich - Murdered October 29, 1995 - Hartford/Wethersfield}

On Sunday, October 29, 1995, at approximately 4:49 a.m., Hartford Police received 911 calls about a woman being dragged by a motor vehicle from Locust Street west on Elliott Street toward Wethersfield Avenue in Hartford.

The caller described the car as similar to a 1995 or recent year Nissan Maxima or similar make. Another caller, using a fire emergency telephone at the corner of Elliott Street and Wethersfield Avenue, observed the female being dragged by the car south on Wethersfield Avenue toward the Town of Wethersfield. The female caller was never identified.

Just prior to the 911 calls, a Hartford Police Officer patrolling north on Wethersfield Avenue near Elliott Street in a marked cruiser observed a small dark color car enter Wethersfield Avenue from Elliot Street and travel south with no headlights on. The officer observed something unidentifiable being dragged from the passenger side of the vehicle. The officer pursued the car without success. The officer followed a discernable trail of liquid left on the pavement to the area of Jordan Lane near Ridge Road in Wethersfield.

{There is a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the death of Leah Ulbrich on October 29, 1995.} The officer located the victim, with extensive injuries, lying against the northern curb of Jordan Lane. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by responding Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). An autopsy performed at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Farmington determined the cause of death as extensive blunt trauma and certified the manner of death as a homicide. The victim was identified as Leah Ulbrich, age 24, of Hartford and New Britain.

Since October 29, 1995, the Hartford Police Department and the Wethersfield Police Department have conducted an intensive investigation into the murder of Leah Ulbrich. Numerous extensive interviews have been conducted and forensic evidence analyzed.

In November 2001, a joint investigation was initiated between the Hartford Police Department, the Wethersfield Police Department and the Cold Case Unit of the Office of the Chief State's Attorney.

At the request of James E. Thomas, then the State's Attorney for the Judicial District of Hartford, the Governor authorized a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death of Leah Ulbrich. The Division of Criminal Justice maintains a Tip Line to take information on this case. The number is 860-548-0606.

Follow this link to e-mail the Cold Case Unit of the Chief State's Attorney's Office with information or a tip about the case of Leah Ulbrich or call the tip line at 860-548-0606 or toll-free at 1-866-623-8058. All calls and e-mails will be kept confidential.

Sexual Assaults - Summer 1984 - Bloomfield/Middletown/Rocky Hill/Windsor

In August of 2004, Superior Court Judge Elpedio N. Vitale signed Connecticut's first "John Doe" arrest warrant charging a suspect identified only by his DNA profile with four counts of Kidnapping in the First Degree with a Firearm.

The warrant was issued based on a Cold Case investigation by Inspector James Rovella of the Cold Case Unit of the Office of the Chief State's Attorney in conjunction with the Connecticut State Police Forensic Laboratory and the police departments in Bloomfield, Middletown, Rocky Hill and Windsor.

At the request of James E. Thomas, then State's Attorney for the Judicial District of Hartford, Governor M. Jodi Rell issued a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual responsible for the crimes.

A tip line has been established at 860-548-0606, or toll-free at 1-866-623-8058. All calls will remain confidential.

The warrant charges "John Doe" in the following crimes:

• On June 3, 1984, a twenty-five-year-old female was sexually assaulted in her apartment at the Sutton Apartments in Bloomfield by an armed man. The attacker entered the apartment through a sliding glass door, and the victim awoke with him standing next to the bed. The man placed his hand over the victim's mouth and told her not to scream or he would shoot her and her roommate. The intruder also said that he had just shot someone at a convenience store.

The intruder told the victim to smell the barrel of the gun. He blindfolded her, sexually assaulted her and then remained in the apartment for what the victim described as an "eternity." The intruder disabled the telephone, which was found the rear yard, searched the residence for valuables and drank a beer from the refrigerator. The victim remained in her bed until she felt the intruder had gone and then summoned police.

• On June 26, 1984, a thirty-year-old woman was sexually assaulted in her residence at the Trolley Crossing Condominiums in Middletown. The victim was sleeping when the intruder entered the residence through the sliding doors and jumped on top of her. The intruder put a gun to her head and told her that he had just shot someone for not cooperating.

The intruder blindfolded the victim, disabled the telephone, and searched the residence for valuables and money. At one point, he guided the blindfolded victim downstairs to find her purse. The intruder guided her back to the bedroom where he sexually assaulted her. The intruder remained in the residence asking if there was food in the refrigerator. The victim stated that her attacker remained in the residence for several hours.

• On July 21, 1984, a twenty-four-year-old woman was sexually assaulted in her apartment at the Rivers Bend Apartments in Windsor. The victim was sleeping when the intruder entered through sliding glass doors. She awakened to the man putting a gun to her head. The man blindfolded her and sexually assaulted her.

The intruder then sat her in a chair, still blindfolded, while he searched for valuables and money, disabled the telephone, tampered with the time on her clocks and ran water from faucets to cloak his departure. The victim estimated that it was a period of hours from the time the incident began until she felt safe that she could summon assistance.

• On July 24, 1984, a twenty-four-year-old woman was sexually assaulted at her apartment at the Westledge Apartments in Rocky Hill. The victim was sleeping in her bed with her 2-year-old daughter when the masked intruder entered through the sliding doors. The victim awoke to the man sitting beside her pointing a gun to the side of her face. The intruder told her not to scream as he began to touch her. The victim requested to move her daughter to another room. The intruder blindfolded her and additionally stuffed cotton balls into the blindfold. He then guided the victim as she carried her sleeping daughter to another bedroom where she placed the child on a bed. The intruder guided the victim back to the other bedroom and sexually assaulted her.

After the assault, the intruder disabled the telephone, searched the apartment for valuables and money and made himself something to eat. The victim estimates that he remained in the apartment for more than one hour, and left water faucets running to cloak his departure.

These crimes remain unsolved despite extensive investigation that drew upon the expertise and experience of a special task force of Detectives from the police departments in Bloomfield, Middletown, Rocky Hill and Windsor and the Connecticut State Police. The Detectives employed all means and techniques available at the time of the crimes, which was prior to the advent of DNA technology.

Subsequent developments in technology led to the DNA analysis of evidence from the scenes of the four attacks linking them to one individual, whose name remains unknown. The Connecticut State Police Forensic Laboratory continues to conduct routine searches of its DNA Data Bank and the National DNA Data Bank to place the DNA profile with a name. (DNA profiles from additional individuals are constantly being added to the State and National Data Banks).

Follow this link to e-mail the Cold Case Unit of the Chief State's Attorney's Office regarding any of these four crimes, or call the tip line at 860-548-0606or toll-free at 1-866-623-8058. All communications will be kept confidential.  

Hit-and-Run Death of Gabrielle Lee - New Haven - June 5, 2008

Governor M. Jodi Rell authorized a $10,000 reward for information leading to the motorist responsible for the death of 11-year-old Gabrielle Lee, who was fatally struck by a motor vehicle in New Haven on June 5, 2008.

The child, a student at the Elm City College Prep charter school, is believed to have been struck by a Volkswagen Jetta.

Anyone with information about the accident should contact the New Haven Police Department.