Barbara and James Tamborra
SEYMOUR — ARREST MADE. UPDATE HERE.
Police officers were stopping traffic on Route 67 on Friday in an effort to find anyone with information on the Dec. 10 hit-and-run that took the lives of an elderly married couple from Shelton.
James and Barbara Tamborra, both 81, were attempting to cross the road from Ward-Miller Funeral Home at about 6 p.m. after attending a crowded wake. A police officer had stopped traffic so they could get to the Klarides Plaza parking lot where their vehicle was parked. A dark-colored SUV nearly hit the police officer before striking Mr. and Mrs. Tamborra. The suspect vehicle briefly stopped, then took off on Route 67 heading toward Route 8, police said.
Both victims were rushed to the hospital, where James Tamborra succumbed to his injuries that same night. Barbara Tamborra died as a result of her injuries Dec. 15.
Police are looking for a dark-colored SUV, an Acura MDX, possibly a model released between 2014 and 2016. The vehicle has front-end damage, specifically to the driver’s side headlight and hood.
Seymour Police Chief Paul Satkowski said officers returned to the scene of the crime Friday (Dec. 17) in an effort to talk to commuters who might have information. The police were there for two hours.
“We conducted the traffic stop in an effort to gather information and to see if anyone saw or heard anything about what happened the week before,” Satkowski said “People travel the same route all the time, to and from work, etc., and this is another investigative technique we’re using to try to get information.”
Satkowski said nothing new materialized from Friday’s effort, though members of the public expressed support for the investigation.
An image from Seymour police showing what the suspect vehicle looks like.
Satkowski also said detectives are reviewing additional surveillance video gathered from area businesses and residences they canvassed last week along Route 67. Police previously released a seven-second surveillance video that shows the alleged vehicle speeding through the frame.
The Tamborra’s three adult children appealed to the public for help during a press conference last week, pleading with the driver who killed their parents to surrender.
“This is a senseless tragedy,” said Ken Tamborra, urging anyone with information or who may have witnessed the tragic incident to report it to police. “If you’re the person that did this, please come forward. Please give our family closure to this tragedy.”
Anyone with information should call the Seymour Police Tips Line at 203−881−7638 or Commander David Parratt at 203−881−7610, or on his cell phone at 203 – 915‑2517. Callers can remain anonymous.
A Mass celebrating the lives of James and Barbara Tamborra was held Tuesday morning at St. Lawrence Church in Shelton. The couple was married for 56 years and had three children, nine grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
James Tamborra was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and served as vice-president of engineering at Emson Research before retiring. Barbara Tamborra was a Eucharistic Minister at St. Lawrence Church for more than 20 years.
