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Obituaries
29-Year-Old With 'Gentle Loving Heart' ID'd As Man Found In Connecticut River 29-Year-Old With 'Gentle Loving Heart' ID'd As Man Found In Connecticut River
29-Year-Old With 'Gentle Loving Heart' ID'd As Man Found In Connecticut River A 29-year-old man from western Massachusetts and law clerk for the State of New Jersey has been identified as the person police pulled from the Connecticut River earlier this week.  Daniel Esrick, a Northampton native, was found Monday, Nov. 25, near the Gill side of Route 2, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. It's unclear how long he had been in the water.  Daniel was a talented student, according to his obituary. He studied biology and physics at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst before matriculating to the Temple University Beasley School of Law, where he g…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
CT US Marine, 68, ID'd As Victim Killed By Car While Walking On Highway CT US Marine, 68, ID'd As Victim Killed By Car While Walking On Highway
CT US Marine, 68, ID'd As Victim Killed By Car While Walking On Highway Authorities have identified the pedestrian killed while walking along Route 44 this weekend as 68-year-old Leo Blain of Putnam, Connecticut. Blain was struck by a Ford Fusion around 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23, according to Connecticut State Police. Paramedics transported him to Day Kimball Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Hugh MacKenzie posted a tribute on social media, describing Blain as a US Marine who deeply cared for others. “I am quite saddened to learn of the sudden passing of my friend Leo Blain, who was struck and killed by a car this evening in Putnam," MacKenzie wro…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
CT's Second Female Governor Jodi Rell Dies At 78 CT's Second Female Governor Jodi Rell Dies At 78
CT's Second Female Governor Jodi Rell Dies At 78 Connecticut is mourning the loss of its second female governor, Jodi Rell, who died following a brief illness.  Rell, who served as the state's 87th governor from 2004 to 2011, died on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at the age of 78 at a hospital in Florida following a short illness, CBS News reported.  Rell took office following the resignation of her predecessor, John G. Rowland, who pleaded guilty to corruption charges in 2004. She is the most recent Republican to serve as Connecticut's governor and spent her two terms expanding healthcare and childcare, strengthening ethics laws, and brin…

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Gold Star Father ID'd As Victim In Fatal Western Mass Crash Gold Star Father ID'd As Victim In Fatal Western Mass Crash
Gold Star Father ID'd As Victim In Fatal Western Mass Crash The Massachusetts father of a soldier killed in Afghanistan died earlier this week after being hit by a car while on his way to deliver an award in his son's honor, his family said. Michael Demarsico, 63, of North Adams in Berkshire County, was crossing Route 8 to go to the Bounti-Fare restaurant in Adams on Sunday, Nov. 17, just after 5 p.m. when a car struck him, authorities said. Demarsico was pronounced dead in the back of an ambulance en route to Berkshire Medical Center, the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office said. The driver of the car that hit Demarsico remained at the sce…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
54-Year-Old Man ID'd As Victim In Fatal Fiery CT Crash 54-Year-Old Man ID'd As Victim In Fatal Fiery CT Crash
54-Year-Old Man ID'd As Victim In Fatal Fiery CT Crash Police in Connecticut have identified the man killed in a Windham County crash last month as a 54-year-old whose truck struck a pole and caught fire, authorities said. Craig David Laliberte, 54, of Southbridge, Massachusetts, was behind the wheel when his Ford F-350 veered off Route 198 in Woodstock, Windham County, just after 5:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30, state police said. The truck was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at the scene. The Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner identified Laliberte after an autopsy, and police contacted his next of kin. It is…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
43-Year-Old ID'd As Driver In Fiery Fatal Route 8 Crash 43-Year-Old ID'd As Driver In Fiery Fatal Route 8 Crash
43-Year-Old ID'd As Driver In Fiery Fatal Route 8 Crash Police have identified the driver who was killed last week after their truck left the road and burst into flames in Litchfield County.  Lester Y. Rivera-Santiago, age 43, of Waterbury, was killed on Tuesday, Nov. 12, just before 10:30 p.m. on Route 8 in Thomaston, Connecticut State Police said.  Rivera-Santiago was driving south on the highway about a mile north of exit 38 when his 2002 Dodge Ram went off the shoulder and crashed into the wire guardrail in the median. The truck burst into flames following the wreck, authorities said.  Paramedics pronounced him dead at the sc…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
'Cherished Each, Every Moment': 22-Year-Old Killed In CT Crash Remembered For Love Of Family 'Cherished Each, Every Moment': 22-Year-Old Killed In CT Crash Remembered For Love Of Family
'Cherished Each, Every Moment': 22-Year-Old Killed In CT Crash Remembered For Love Of Family A 22-year-old Connecticut man killed in a car crash earlier this week was remembered as a talented athlete with a bright future, his family said. Jayden Gonzalez died when his car collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Baldwin and Lounsbury Streets in Waterbury around 2:15 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10, according to authorities. The other driver remains in critical condition, though police have not provided updates. Original Report: 22-Year-Old Killed In Crash, Another Hospitalized Jayden, a Sacred Heart High School graduate, shone on the football field and carried his love of spor…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Horror Icon, CT Legend Tony Todd Dies After Lengthy Illness Horror Icon, CT Legend Tony Todd Dies After Lengthy Illness
Horror Icon, CT Legend Tony Todd Dies After Lengthy Illness Tony Todd, the actor best known for his role in the "Candyman" films, died last week at his Los Angeles Home after a lengthy illness, his family said. He was 69.   Born in Washington, D.C. in 1954, Todd moved to Hartford during his childhood. He attended local schools, including Hartford Public High School, and was a member of Boy Scout Troop 450 at Mt. Calvary Church in Hartford's North End. A monumental loss for the horror community. Rest in Peace Tony Todd. pic.twitter.com/xbtMYRhsE5 — Blumhouse (@blumhouse) November 9, 2024 Todd's passion for acting led him to study at th…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
CT Officer, Dad Of 2 Dies Unexpectedly: 'He Was Friend To Everyone He Met' CT Officer, Dad Of 2 Dies Unexpectedly: 'He Was Friend To Everyone He Met'
CT Officer, Dad Of 2 Dies Unexpectedly: 'He Was Friend To Everyone He Met' Police in Connecticut are mourning the death of an officer who died unexpectedly on Friday, Nov. 8, while off duty.  Windsor Police Officer Louis “The Kidd” Clayton leaves behind two young daughters — 2-year-old Zendaya and 3-year-old Zola — his parents, and long-time girlfriend, Olivia.  Related: Former Windsor Police Chief Dies After Long Illness Windsor Police did not disclose how Clayton died, but the department said he was a dedicated and compassionate public servant.  "Officer Clayton served with dedication and honor, and this loss has profoundly affected our depart…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Ex-CT Police Chief Dies After Long Illness: 'To Know Him Was To Know Love' Ex-CT Police Chief Dies After Long Illness: 'To Know Him Was To Know Love'
Ex-CT Police Chief Dies After Long Illness: 'To Know Him Was To Know Love' The longest-serving police chief in Connecticut history died last week at his home surrounded by his family, police in Hartford County said.  Former Windsor Police Chief Kevin C. Searles fought a long battle with dementia and died from the disease on Thursday, Nov. 7, his obituary said.  Searles worked for the Plainville Police Department, rising to the rank of detective, before taking the top cop job in Windsor in 1987. He held the position for 28 years.  He stepped down in December 2014 for medical reasons.  His family said he became a police officer because of …

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Victim Hit, Killed In Crash ID'd As 87-Year-Old Woman Victim Hit, Killed In Crash ID'd As 87-Year-Old Woman
Victim Hit, Killed In Crash ID'd As 87-Year-Old Woman A Connecticut woman who was seriously hurt after being struck by a car on Friday, Nov. 8, has died, authorities said.  Patricia Brulotte, 87, was hit just after 5 p.m. in the area of Oakwood Avenue and St. James Street in West Hartford, police said. Paramedics took the West Hartford woman to an area hospital, where she later died.  The driver who hit her remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities, West Hartford Police said.  Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.  Investigators ask anyone with information on the incident to contact West …

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
'Fly High': Father Of 3 ID'd As Man Killed In Motorcycle Crash 'Fly High': Father Of 3 ID'd As Man Killed In Motorcycle Crash
'Fly High': Father Of 3 ID'd As Man Killed In Motorcycle Crash A 44-year-old Connecticut man was identified as the victim of a fatal motorcycle crash earlier this week, authorities said.  Heber Lopez, of Stamford in Fairfield County, was killed just after midnight on Thursday, Nov. 7, when his motorcycle hit a fence and tree on Long Ridge Road near Brook Run Lane, authorities said. He died at the scene, police said.  Multiple people posted he was nearly at his home when he crashed.  Original Report: Stamford Police Investigating Fatal Motorcycle Crash As police investigate what led up to the crash, family and friends have been sharing …

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by Josh Lanier