Student wanted for two murders is detained after two-day manhunt
An armed college student who allegedly killed two men in a crime spree was caught in Maryland, police said.
Several police agencies and the FBI searched for the 23-year-old, Peter Manfredonia, over six-days after a spate of crimes were committed last week.
He was found at a service station in Hagerstown, Maryland, on Wednesday. He was not injured and no officers were hurt during the arrest, Connecticut State Police said.
“The suspect will face justice and this will bring closure. This is what is important for the families of the victims,” said Connecticut State Police spokeswoman Christine Jeltema.
Mr Manfredonia was wanted in the machete killing of 62-year-old Ted DeMers and the wounding of another man in Willington, Connecticut, on Friday.
Cyndi DeMers, the first victim’s wife, said afterwards that the Connecticut University senior was searching for a woman he knew, who lived next door.
The student is then thought to have killed Mr DeMers with a machete after offering him a ride to his parked bicycle.
The University of Connecticut senior is also thought to have shot Sandy Hook high school friend Nicholas Eisele, 23, at his home on Sunday,
Police said he also stole guns and drove a truck about 70 miles (110 kilometers) southwest with Mr Eisele’s girlfriend to Derby, Connecticut. She was later found safe.
Authorities have not offered a possible motive for the crimes.
A man matching descriptions of Mr Manfredonia was spotted on Tuesday night near Scranton, Pennsylvania, prompting another search there.
Thank you to law enforcement members from the @CT_STATE_POLICE and local PD, as well as those from each of our neighboring states, for their dedicated commitment regarding this matter. We are appreciative of their unified approach to this disturbing situation. https://t.co/hYr3EhsuVz
— Governor Ned Lamont (@GovNedLamont)
Police later suspected Mr Manfredonia to be in the Hagerstown, Maryland, area, where a ride-hailing service dropped off someone matching his description Wednesday.
A lawyer for the suspect’s family, Michael Dolan, said they were relieved the search had ended peacefully.
“This came as a total surprise to everybody based on Peter’s past,” said Mr Dolan. “He’s been a kind-hearted person who has no history of violence or any trouble with the law.”
Connecticut governor Ned Lamont offered thanks to police agencies including those in other states that were involved in the search.
“We are appreciative of their unified approach to this disturbing situation,” Lamont said on Twitter.
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