Connecticut Home Invasion: Rape, Murder and Arson

Back in 2007, William Petit woke from a nap to find 2 men attacking him with a baseball bat. One of the men said, "If he moves, shoot him". They then took him down to the basement where they tied him to a post. 28 year old Joshua Komisarjevsky had spotted Petit's wife and 2 children while they were shopping at a grocery store. He followed them to their home, then went and got 44 year old Steven Hayes and returned to the house for a "Home Invasion"

William was down stairs, so he couldn't hear much of what was happening during the 7 hour ordeal. What ended up happening was one of the most horrendous crimes imaginable. Keeping the rest of the family hostage at home, the two criminals (who were both on "parole" and lived together) sent Petit's wife to the bank to withdraw $15,000.

While she was there she was told the teller what was happening, trying to get help. She returned to her home where she was beaten, raped and strangled to death. Then her 17 year old daugther Hayley was beaten and raped. They tied 11 year old Michaela to the bed by her wrists and raped her, then poured gasoline throughout the house and set it on fire.

Hayley was apparently trying to get to her younger sister and was found dead from smoke inhalation. Michaela was found still tied to her bed, also dead from smoke inhalation. Police finally arrived at the home and apprehended the two criminals as they tried to run away.

William was able to get loose from his bindings and was coming out of the basement when police spotted him. He had lost more than 7 pints of blood and went to the hospital to recover from the attack.

This morning, 3 years later the trial finally began and when the jury was shown the pictures of the charred bodies, they were so shaken that the judge ended the proceedings early and told the jurers to come back next week.