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Thursday, mar 20

Josh Lanier

Assistant Managing Editor

jlanier@dailyvoice.com

Josh Lanier started his reporting career in high school for his local newspaper. Many — many — years later, he’s still chasing leads for compelling stories. During his time writing for newspapers, magazines, and online publications, he’s covered everything from murderers to mommy bloggers, but his most interesting story is always the next one.

Josh Lanier's Contributions

Police & Fire

Police ID 2 Involved In Fatal Hit, Run Chicopee Crash; Both Face Felony Charges: DA Authorities have identified the men they say were involved in a hit-and-run crash in Western Mass last month that left a 34-year-old woman dead. Lavonta Williams Jr., 29, of Chicopee, is charged with leaving the scene of personal injury and death. Jerimeldo Lopez, 23, of South Hadley, faces negligent operation of a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of personal injury and death charges, the Hampden District Attorney's Office said. The prosecutor said they were in a vehicle that crashed into Vanessa Perez, of Springfield, on Feb. 9 on Abbey Memorial Road. Perez di…

03/20/2025

Police & Fire

Ex-Fairfield Official Sentenced in Toxic Cover-Up That Contaminated Schools, Beaches A former public works director for a Fairfield County Town was sentenced to six months in prison and five years probation after he admitted to illegally dumping hazardous materials on town property, authorities said. Ex-Fairfield official Joseph Michelangelo, 63, pleaded guilty to multiple environmental crimes, including the illegal disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and asbestos, operating an unpermitted waste facility, and conspiracy to commit larceny and forgery, the State's Attorney's Office said. Prosecutors say that between 2013 and 2020, he and others consp…

03/20/2025

Police & Fire

2nd Person Arrested In Winchester Animal Cruelty Case Where Police Seized 27 Dogs A 28-year-old Connecticut man turned him in to police on Wednesday, March 19, a day after a woman was arrested for allegedly abusing more than two dozen dogs, authorities said. David Reid, of Winstead, was charged with animal cruelty and was being held on a $75,000 bond, Winchester police said. Sarah Smolak, 28, of Winsted, was charged Tuesday with two counts of animal cruelty and was being held on a $150,000 bond, Winchester Police reported. Court records show that the two were allegedly taking in dogs and claiming they would care for them. But when police investigated, they f…

03/19/2025

Police & Fire

Man Killed Girlfriend, Their Infant Days Before Setting Fatal Fire At Wallingford Home: Police A 19-year-old woman and her 9-month-old son died days before their bodies were found inside their home after it was set ablaze by the child's father, police announced. Justin Varnado, 24, is believed to have killed Karizmah Johnson and baby Kylenn (Jasir) between two and seven days before the fire on April 17, 2024, at a multi-family home at 25 Geneva Ave. home in Wallingford, authorities said. When police arrived at the fire, they found Justin Varnado walking out of the home covered in severe burns. Paramedics rushed him to an area hospital, but he died of h…

03/19/2025

News

$200K Lottery Jackpot: Rocky Hill Player Wins Payday In New Game It’s been a lucky week for two Connecticut residents, who won six-figure jackpots on a new scratch-off ticket on back-to-back days. One of the winning tickets was purchased Monday, March 17, in Westport while playing the new $10 "100X" scratch-off game. It was sold at Stop & Shop, 1790 Post Road East in Westport. Less than 24 hours later, fortune struck again in Rocky Hill when a player won $200,000 on another "100X" ticket. That ticket was bought at Krauser’s Food Store, 357 Cromwell Ave. in Rocky Hill. Both stores that sold the winning tickets will collect a $1,000 bonus for ea…

03/19/2025

News

Half-Sister Of Man Held Captive 20 Years In CT Home Speaks Out: 'I'm Disgusted' The half-sister of a 32-year-old man who was imprisoned in a Connecticut home for two decades is speaking out against the stepmother who allegedly held him captive. "I have no kind words. I’m disgusted, I’m disappointed. How could you be such a monster?" she said on the "Chaz and AJ in the Morning" show. "How could you do that to a child?” Heather Tessman told WPLR's radio hosts that she had spent her adult life looking for her half-brother but couldn't find him. She was horrified when she saw reports last week of the hell he had endured while hidden away inside a home on Blake Street in Wa…

03/19/2025

Police & Fire

Hartford Car Salesman Who Swindled $646K From Banks Gets 2 Years In Prison: DOJ A Connecticut man who swindled multiple banks and credit unions out of more than $646,000 through fraudulent auto loans has been sentenced to two years in federal prison, authorities announced. Ronnie Bonner, 64, of Hartford, appeared in court on Wednesday, March 19, where he was sentenced to 24 months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut said. Prosecutors say Bonner orchestrated a scheme that involved applying for auto loans—often using the names of friends—without actually purchasing vehicles. Between September 2014 and February 20…

03/19/2025

Police & Fire

Man Gunned Down In New London; Police Say It Was No Random Act A man was shot and killed earlier this week in a targeted attack in New London, police said. Officers responded to the 20 block of Moore Avenue around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, after receiving reports of gunfire and a possible gunshot victim, New London police said. When they arrived, they found an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the torso. Police immediately provided medical aid before paramedics rushed him to an area hospital, where he died of his wounds. Police did not release his name pending family notification. Investigators said the shooting does not ap…

03/19/2025

Police & Fire

Meriden Man Vandalized Columbus Statue, Stole POW Flag, Cut Down American Flags: Police A Connecticut man has been arrested and charged with vandalizing a Christopher Columbus monument in Meriden last month, authorities said. Marco Mejil Jr., 30, of Meriden, turned himself in to police on Tuesday, March 18, after a warrant was issued for his arrest, authorities said. The investigation began after officers responded to reports of vandalism near East Main Street and Broad Street on Feb. 25, where a statue of Christopher Columbus had been covered in graffiti. Officers also found a flagpole snapped in half, ropes cut, a POW flag stolen, and multiple American flags missing, Meriden…

03/19/2025

News

Dolphins Crash Party As Mass Astronaut Returns To Earth After 9-Month Mission Nine months after departing for the International Space Station on a planned week-long trip, two American astronauts have finally returned to Earth after a string of delays and bad luck. But it wasn't just a grateful nation welcoming them home — they also received an unexpected visit from a pod of dolphins, which showed up to check out their splashdown. Astronauts Sunita Williams, 59, of Needham, Massachusetts, and Butch Wilmore, 62, landed Tuesday evening, March 18, in the Atlantic Ocean near Florida. They were joined on the return trip by astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmo…

03/18/2025

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