A 12-year-old Connecticut boy was arrested for the murder of his twin sister and for injuring his mother, a prominent lobbyist, according to reports.
The boy, who hasn’t been named, was charged on Dec. 18, with one count of murder and one count of first-degree assault, said West Hartford police. He was arraigned at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, where he was treated for injuries following the alleged stabbing, according to the Hartford Courant.
He’s accused of seriously injuring his mother, Janemarie Murphy, and killing his sister, Brigid Curtin, according to the paper. The Hartford Courant reported that she had started working for the Senate Democrats in 1989 before becoming a lobbyist.
An 'unspeakable tragedy': Connecticut town stunned by arrest of 12-year-old son in killing of twin sister, stabbing of mother, Janemarie Murphy, a prominent lobbyist 🙏🏾💔 ABC News #Murder https://t.co/Z2yVY3WIUa
— Tamara Davis 🇺🇸 (@warriors_mom) December 20, 2018
She was identified on Dec. 18, by the Hartford law firm Murtha Cullina LLP, where she worked, according to the paper.
“We are devastated by the horrific tragedy affecting our friend and colleague Jane Murphy,” a statement issued from Murtha Cullina said. “Jane has been a valued member of the Government Affairs Group of Murtha Cullina LLP for over 24 years. We are doing all we can to support Jane and her family, and ask everyone to please respect their privacy during this extraordinarily difficult time.”
According to Fox61, police got a 911 call at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 17, from a woman who said her son stabbed her and her daughter. The Connecticut state medical examiner later ruled the girl’s death a homicide due to a stabbing.
“Officers arrived on scene and located the two victims and the suspect,” police said, ABC News reported. “Officers, later joined by paramedics from the West Hartford Fire Department, immediately began emergency medical efforts to treat the mother and daughter.”
Democratic Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy also tweeted about the incident, offering his condolences to Murphy’s family.
“My heart is sick for my friend Janemarie Murphy and her family,” he tweeted. “What an unfathomable loss. I know the community of West Hartford and her legions of friends at the State Capitol are rallying to her side to make sure the family has all they need.”
The motive for the stabbing is under investigation, police said.
“There are a thousand parents out there looking for answers,” Democratic State Sen. Beth Bye told the Hartford Courant. “It’s going to be a community healing process.”
West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor released a statement from Janemarie Murphy’s family. “We are all enduring a very painful and unimaginable loss,” the statement said. “Our family will never be the same. Our daughter was a beautiful child and we will remember forever her smile … laughter … and remember her for the way she loved and lived.”
Juvenile offenders under the age of 14 in Connecticut face limited punishment, the Courant noted. “The maximum punishment for a person 14 or younger would be a maximum of 30 months of probation supervision with or without residential placement, minus any time spent in pretrial detention,” said Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Kevin Lawlor.
Only suspects who are aged 15 or older can potentially have their cases transferred to an adult court. The boy is being represented by defense attorney Hubert J. Santos.
“We ask everyone to remember this tragedy is a juvenile matter, not a criminal one,” said Trent A. LaLima, a spokesman for Santos. “We request that people respect the privacy of the family and their loved ones at this time.”
