NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Prosecutors showed jurors grim photos this week of rope used to tie up victims, ripped clothing and ransacked rooms in a suburban home invasion that began with the suspects trailing a mother and her two girls at a supermarket and ended with their deaths.
Dr. William Petit, the sole survivor, who was beaten and tied up in the basement but escaped before the fire was set, hung his head at times as prosecutors showed photo after photo of burned staircases and hallways and images of his childrens’ badly torn and burned clothing.
Petit had sobbed during Wednesday‘s testimony as photos of his daughters’ bodies were shown at the trial of Steven Hayes, one of two suspects charged with murder, sexual assault and other crimes in the deaths of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters on July 23, 2007.
The photos included images of rope used to tie up the victims; ripped shorts and other belongings of 17-year-old Hayley and 11-year-old Michaela; ransacked rooms; and melted containers that prosecutors said contained accelerants used by Hayes and Joshua Komisarjevsky to destroy evidence with a fire.
Prosecutors say Komisarjevsky saw Hawke-Petit and her daughters as they shopped for groceries and followed them to their home in the affluent bedroom 
community of Cheshire. He returned later with Hayes, authorities say, and together they severely beat William Petit, now 53, and killed his wife and daughters.
Komisarjevsky is awaiting trial. They both face the possibility of the death penalty if convicted.
State Police Sgt. Karen Gabianelli took the stand in New Haven Superior Court, leading prosecutors through photos displayed on a screen before the jury. On Wednesday, prosecutors showed photos of the bodies of the victims as they were found by police and firefighters.
In all the bedrooms, jewelry was removed, Gabianelli said.
“It looked like it had been gone through pretty well,” she said.
In another bedroom where clothes were strewn about, she said, “The closet was pretty well gone through, too.”
Hayes and Komisarjevsky were paroled burglars at the time of the invasion.
Prosecutors showed photos of a pickup truck they say Hayes drove. Photos show the interior containing a knapsack belonging to the 17-year-old along with jewelry, including a string of pearls stored in a plastic bag.
Superior Court Judge Jon Blue ended the session after defense lawyer Thomas Ullmann said his client had “medical issues” and unspecified information related to security. Earlier, Ullmann said Hayes had seizure-like symptoms and urinated on himself Wednesday night.
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Comments (67)
mara123
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 11:23amThe police didnt do there job on this one, death for those two evil creeps
Report Post »sapper
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:19amAs a father and husband and special forces combat veteran I can say without equivocation that if put in this mans shoes there is no power on earth that would keep me from killing both of those bastards and probably each of the officers who stood around with their heads up their asses while my family was brutalized and slaughtered. I say burn them at the stake and make it a well publicized pay per view on cable.
Report Post »quicker
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 3:32pmmaybe we need to go to an even earlier time in punishment inpall them on ashort thick stake
Report Post »MESO71
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:12amAs much as I would like for them to meet with a gruesome, painful, and slow demise. We need to guard ourselves against what we may become.
Report Post »If we were to start dishing out justice in the manner that I have seen described thus far… Well, need I say it. Sadly, violent crime makes victims out of many more than those we immediately think of. All involved in the decision as to appropriate justice and both the literal and legal cleanup of the mess these two pieces of filth have created.
They don’t deserve it, but we should protect ourselves from becoming the barbaric heathen that practice sharia law.
Nor should they be a continued burden on innocent taxpayers (another victim as well). They don’t deserve to live, and so they should be dispatched to let God judge their fate. And it should be done as swiftly, unceremoniously, and without suffering as possible. Not for them, but for us. Torturing them won’t heal a single wound. God is perfectly capable of dealing with them in the appropriate manner. I choose to leave Gods job to God.
STUPID WINDTURBINE
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:25amWell said.
Report Post »sicoit
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 1:45pmAmen.
Report Post »Tatum
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:02amEvery good person should have a Gun at their side 24/7 just for Animals like this. You come in My house and you might get Me, but you might get your Head blowen back out the door/window you came in. One thing for sure. I would have a chance. These poor Young Ladies have probably never even held a pistol.
I want to hear a story like this were the 10 year old Girl blows the Bad Guys head off.
Report Post »Ed Kidon
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 9:58amI only wish it had been my house. Upon arrival they would have been dispatched by my sig-saur with extreme prejudice!
Report Post »rlmeals
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 9:42amThe police definitely have to answer for the inadequacies in their tactics on this one, but how low can you go by using that as a defense to avoid the death penalty??? So a serial murderer can say, “I left them my DNA and plenty of clues, they should have found me quicker.”??????? Ridiculous logic, and I’m ashamed to say some jury may actually buy it.
My prayers go out to this family, I hope justice is swift and that God brings peach and comfort to them.
Report Post »rlmeals
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:02amPeach??? Sorry…I obviously meant “peace”!
Report Post »MusketBall
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 9:26amThis is a great argument for summary execution – no trial, no lawyers, no appeals. Just blow their stinking heads off. But I absolutely agree that law enforcement had every ounce of probable cause they needed to stop what was about to happen. But since the SCOTUS ruled that police do not have a Constitutional duty to protect citizens, the cops will skate away from this one, just like they’ve skated away from similar cases. This proves just how desperately we need to punch the reset button.
Report Post »twofoot_trucker
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 9:23amThis is why I advocate an “eye for an eye” type of justice. For crimes like this, the murderer(s) is executed in the exact manner the victims were. Carried out swiftly and even publicly. No more sitting on death row for twenty plus years.
Report Post »KEA
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 9:16amFry them in PUBLIC. No more behind closed door execusions of these slime balls. Make it public and you stand a chance of detering would be killers and rapists.
History proves that once the death penalty was taken out of the public eye violent crimes have risen ever sense. You have to give the dirtbags something to think about and maybe, just maybe, something to be afraid of.
Report Post »Zoe
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:06amYes …… proper protocol-!
& if these guys skate out from the death penalty, why on God’s earth are we PAYING for their continued existence!
Report Post »K.L.A.G.
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 8:58amAll you people who claim “death is too good for them” you are wrong wrong wrong. They must meet their maker and suffer their punishment as only he can deliver it. So please don’t think for a split second that death is too good for these vile detestable animals. The problem today is that justice has been perverted and nobody quite understands that convicted killers should be put to death.
Report Post »CapedConservative
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 8:45amI like to fish offshore. I would love to use both of these animals for chum.
CC
Report Post »Zoe
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 8:07amPray for the survivors of this family.
There is now way to compare what happened in CT with my next comment:
But many of us know, “they” are also doing this to to our country.
Report Post »Falconer
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 8:06amThere is only one method of execution worthy of these murderers. They are not worth the chemicals to put them to sleep, they are not worth the cost of electricity, they are not worth the cost of cyanide tablets. Get a rope.
Report Post »MusketBall
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 9:28amgood point… we can always re-use the rope.
Report Post »canuck44
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:32amActually a rope is too good. Burning at the stake would be appropriate, adequately slow and painful and very much in keeping with Hammurabi’s justice.
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 2:37pmMy vote’s for the same method the murderers used on their victims.
Report Post »norway1516
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 7:00ami’ve heard more detailed version of this story from mark levin and michael savage and it just makes me sick and I hope they go after the cops who stood outside the home while these 3 women were being raped and tortured and eventually being set ablaze. They had to take 45 minutes to set a perimeter and when the father came crawling out of the basement the cops told him to stay down they didn‘t unbound him and didn’t go in until the flames were consuming the home…..makes me sick
Report Post »bocapatriot
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 6:58amIn this case I would go with sharia law.
Bury them in sand up to their necks, pour so gas around them and on them, well you get the idea, after you light the gas throw a couple of cement blocks but don’t aim too good.
These two are scum of the highest order !! They do not even deserve a trial !!
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 6:35amSorry, but death would be the only thing to stop me from slow roasting these animals while I watched.
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 7:28amHeard that, brother!!
Report Post »Andrew Ryan
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 5:18amNever has a news story filled me with such sorrow and rage.
Report Post »Compete or Lose
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 2:32pmlikewise
Report Post »ARanger45
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 4:34amdeath is too good for these sick scum!!!
“defense lawyer Thomas Ullmann said his client had “medical issues” Ullmann said Hayes had seizure-like symptoms and urinated on himself Wednesday night.”
AAAWWWW BOO FRICKEN HO!!!!!
Report Post »grnhrn
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 4:21amMay god bless and comfort this father,husband who is suffering through the greatest of loss‘ its a shame that now all the groups like aclu will now show up to cry over the offenders fake victimology I guess the over priced lawyers will just claim that they were oppressed muslim’ having to repress the urges to praise allah with the sacrifice of infidel heads. Unbelievable even seeing with your own eyes. Please d.a. Do your job right so this evil in our midst doesent get turned loose upon us again
Report Post »lpauline
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 3:15amI offer a prayer for Dr. Pettit and his family … Lord have great great mercy.
Report Post »1776
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 2:39amDeath penalty and be quick about it. Prayers w/the father, just can’t imagine.
Report Post »jpeg964
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 8:32amPerhaps we could send them to President Tom in Iran for a proper STONING.
I am sick and tired of our system of injustice when it comes to sub humans like this. There is no reason for them to draw another breath, Although it wouldn’t these kind of crimes, it would at least keep these 2 from repeating when they are let out at some point.
Report Post »koyettsu
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 2:16amI don’t even know what to say other than there is evil in this world and things that could do horrible acts like this are not people they are animals. They should be treated like the animals they are and if convicted given the death penalty.
Report Post »Miami
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 1:56amDeath is to good for these animals!
Report Post »tobywil2
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 1:33pmperhaps an all expense paid vacation to Iran for the purpertrators would be a solution. Once there, we could leak the information that they were homosexuals and the Muslims could eliminate the problem.
Report Post »http://commonsense21c.com/
carol m
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 1:53amThey will be in my prayers. I think that these two guys should die the same way their victims died. Just my opinion. Can you believe the defense attorney actually wanted to blame the police for not showing up, I am actually speechless on this one. Just speechless
Report Post »Buck Bagaw
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 9:34amI can’t believe they found a defense attorney!!
Report Post »C. Schwehr
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 2:37pmDid you catch the comments of the defense attorney on Fox News yesterday (saturday)? He was insensed to a degree I very rarely see in people these days…much less on a news show. But I agreed with him that feeling the stick of a needle and going to sleep is MUCH too good for these animals. In this case, an eye for an eye would be suitable. And I’d be very happy to drop the match on the bed they were tied to….and witness their execution as such. Better yet, release them in a public venue…they wouldn’t make it 10 feet!
Report Post »PachiSusan
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 1:34amMy heart hurts for this family.
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 7:26amFry em up!!
Report Post »I favor death penalty for scum bag crimes like this.
Debrabate
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 8:16amdeath is not enough for these men. Leave em in general population during thier entire appeals process…. they will suffer… then fry em up with a side of bacon.
That father has a strength not seen by me in a while. My heart still aches every single time I hear of this story. As a mother, I can honestly say I dont know what I would have done if I were in his wife’s position.
Report Post »Stuck_in_CA
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 8:38amSickening… Maybe we could sentence the evil b@$$+@rd$ in Shariah Law, just this one time???
Report Post »FFPanama
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 12:16pmDid everyone miss this part of the story?
Report Post »“Hayes and Komisarjevsky were paroled burglars at the time of the invasion”
PAROLED??? Why don’t we hold the Parole Board responsible for a change. These Parole boards staffed with bleeding hearts should be responsible for their actions. I also think Judges who let this type creep off, should have to serve the time when they commit another crime. Jail the entire Parole Board, make them set through the trial.
Sorry, but Parole Boards just irritate me letting creeps off all the time. A jury found them guilty and a judge sentenced them according to the law, then the Parole Board overturn the Judge, jury and law and sets them free.
Arrrrrgh!
jeffdubya
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 2:33pm@FFPANAMA… agreed. The day parole boards are subject to criminal prosecution and made criminally liable for the actions of those they unjustly set free, our nation will be a better place. Another fine example of so-called “public officials” who make a healthy living on public tax dollars but don’t DO/ THEIR. JOB.
Truly reprehensible.
Report Post »jeffdubya
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 2:33pm@FFPANAMA… agreed. The day parole boards are subject to criminal prosecution and made criminally liable for the actions of those they unjustly set free, our nation will be a better place. Another fine example of so-called “public officials” who make a healthy living on public tax dollars but don’t DO/ THEIR. JOB.
Truly reprehensible.
Report Post »