DERBY — UPDATE HERE
State police Wednesday night announced that 23-year-old Peter Manfredonia, wanted in connection to homicides in Willington and Derby, was taken into custody in Hagerstown, MD.
He was captured at a truck stop.
“No injuries to any law enforcement personnel or Manfredonia,” Connecticut state police announced on social media.
At a press conference late Wednesday, police said a firearm was found near the spot where Manfredonia was apprehended. State police said that could be the weapon used in the Derby homicide.
Manfredonia could face state and federal charges, authorities said.
The announcement closes a manhunt that started Friday morning in Willington, where Manfredonia allegedly hacked a man to death and badly wounded a second man who had come tried to intervene. The two men who were attacked had no connection to Manfredonia, a senior at the University of Connecticut.
Manfredonia then stole weapons — described as a pistol and long-barrel weapons — and a vehicle from a man in Willington after holding the man against his will for close to two days in the man’s home, according to The Hartford Courant.
Manfredonia then allegedly arrived in Derby early Sunday. Police found his stolen vehicle abandoned near the intersection of Hawthorne Avenue and Cullens Hill Road at about 6:45 a.m.
Police believe that between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. Manfredonia walked to 404 Roosevelt Ave. (Route 34) in Derby, where he shot and killed 23-year-old Nick Eisele, whom he knew from Newtown, where they both grew up.
The scene Sunday outside 404 Roosevelt Drive in Derby, where a 23-year-old man was shot and killed.
Manfredonia allegedly kidnapped Eisiele’s girlfriend and fled in her car. The woman was found later Sunday in New Jersey. She was not injured, and identified Manfredonia as her kidnapper.
Manfredonia apparently ordered a ride-share vehicle that took him to a Walmart in East Stroudsburg, Pa. That was Sunday evening.
Manfredonia managed to remain on the run and traveled from Pennsylvania into Hagerstown, Maryland. He apparently used an Uber to get from a convenience store in
Chambersburg, PA into Maryland, despite Pennsylvania state police issuing wanted alerts.
How he managed to use an Uber despite his face being plastered on national news has not been explained.
Police are also investigating whether Manfredonia stole a vehicle in Pennsylvania while on the run.
He was captured after a foot pursuit at about 9 p.m. Wednesday, according to The Hartford Courant.
Thank you to law enforcement members from the
CT_STATE_POLICE</a> 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. <a href="https://t.co/hYr3EhsuVz">https://t.co/hYr3EhsuVz</a></p>— Governor Ned Lamont (GovNedLamont) May 28, 2020
In a statement, Derby Police Lt. Justin Stanko credited the teamwork and cooperation of the various local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies that have been involved in the case.
“We’re extremely relieved that he’s off the streets, and happy that he’s coming home to face the justice that he deserves,” Stanko said. “We feel for all the families whose lives he affected, and hope that they can start to get some closure not that he is in custody.”
In Connecticut, Manfredonia’s legal process will most likely begin in the Willington area, where he alleged spree began.
