BRYCE O'CONNOR - 20 Months (2010)/ Convicted: Mother; Melissa O’Connor - Dayville CT

Killingly CT ---- State police are investigating the death of a 20-month old child, found dead at a home in the Dayville section of Killingly. Police say they were called to a home on Hartford Pike, Route 101, about 11:15 Thursday morning, to find a child who had stopped breathing, and who later was pronounced dead at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam.

A state police crime scene team will investigate at the home, and the chief state medical examiner will determine how and why the child died.

The child's name has not been released by police.

A superior court judge today ordered a Dayville woman charged with
murder in the death of her 20-month-old son held on $1 million bond and
under a suicide watch.



Melissa O’Connor, 23, of 826E Hartford Pike, was arrested Thursday at
Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, where she was taken for evaluation and
treatment after an undisclosed incident claimed the life of her son,
Bryce O’Connor.

O’Connor, dressed in red sweat pants and sweat shirt with shackles at
her ankles and wrists, made a brief appearance in Danielson Superior
Court. She stood expressionless before Judge Antonio Robaina and
answered “yes,” when asked if she understood her rights.

She is charged with murder, risk of injury to a minor, first-degree
assault and first-degree strangulation.

State prosecutor Matthew Crockett recommended the high bond based on
what he said was a strong case against O’Connor. Windham County State’s
Attorney Patricia Froehlich said O’Connor is also considered a risk to
the community, specifically to children. The case was continued to June
10 when O’Connor will have an opportunity for a probable cause hearing.

A bail commissioner said O’Connor has no criminal history and is
originally from New Hampshire. O’Connor is collecting social security
benefits for mental health-related issues.

State police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said troopers from troop D in
Danielson and the Killingly resident trooper’s office, along with
emergency medical personnel from the Dayville Fire Department and K-B
Ambulance corps, were called to 826E Hartford Pike at about 11:45 a.m.
Thursday for a report of an infant who was unresponsive and in distress.

When the emergency personnel arrived, they found the toddler in what
Vance described as severe distress. The child was rushed by ambulance to
Day Kimball Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 12:30 p.m.,
according to Vance. The cause of death is expected to be determined by
an autopsy at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

When the emergency personnel arrived, they found the toddler in what
Vance described as severe distress. He was rushed by ambulance to Day
Kimball Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 12:30 p.m.,
according to Vance.

Because of an ongoing investigation, the arrest warrant affidavit
prepared by state police is sealed under a court order, Froehlich said.

Preliminary information released by police Thursday indicated the child
was being cared for in the residence when he stopped breathing, Vance
said. The apartment is part of a tan-colored complex on the north side
of the road set back only a short distance from the heavily traveled
highway, also known as state Route 101.

Crime scene tape ran across the front entrance to the apartment
Thursday. A piece of children’s art filled part of a window over the
front door. The crime scene tape continued around the back of the house
and covered a car parked in the driveway behind the apartments.

Police said another child in the apartment was unharmed and was taken
into protective custody by the Department of Children and Families.

The state medical examiner’s officer has determined a 20-month-old
Dayville boy who police said was killed by his mother died of blunt
traumatic head injuries.

An autopsy at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Farmington
has labeled the April 15 death of Bryce O’Connor a homicide.

The announcement comes just hours after the child’s mother, Melissa
O’Connor, 23, of 826E Hartford Pike in Dayville, was arraigned in court
on charges of murder, first-degree strangulation, first-degree assault
and risk of injury to a child.

O’Connor was ordered held on $1 million bond under a suicide watch and
expected for a court appearance on June 10.

http://www.wtic.com/pages/6814815.php?
State Police Arrest Mother in Death of
Toddler at Killingly Home







A 23-year old Killingly woman is under arrest
after her 20-month old son was found dead in their home in the Dayville
section of Killingly.

State police who were called to the home on Hartford Pike (Route 101)
just after 11 Thursday morning found Bryce O'Connor unconscious. The
child later was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Investigators obtained a search warrant and arrested Melissa O'Connor
and charged her in connection with her son's death. She is being held
on a $1,000,000 dollar bond under state plice guard at Day Kimball
Hospital and will be arraigned when she is medically cleared.

O'Connor has been charged with murder, assault and strangulation in the
child's death.

Killingly woman charged with killing 20-month-old son
Published 04/16/2010 12:00 AM
Updated 04/16/2010 07:36 AM
KILLINGLY (AP) — Connecticut state police have charged a
Killingly woman with murder, strangulation and assault in the death of
her 20-month-old son.

State police say they arrested 23-year-old
Melissa O'Connor Thursday night. Troopers say she's being evaluated
under police guard at Day Kimball Hospital and will be arraigned in
court when she is medically cleared.

Authorities responded Thursday morning to a call of an unresponsive infant at O'Connor's home
on Hartford Pike in the Dayville section of Killingly.

Police say the child, Bryce O'Connor, had stopped breathing and was pronounced
dead at the hospital. The medical examiner's office will be performing
an autopsy to try to determine the cause of death.

It's not clear
if O'Connor has an attorney.
http://www.theday.com/article/20100416/NWS04/100419837/1047

Dayville woman waives hearing in son’s death
By GREG SMITH
Norwich Bulletin
Posted Jul 08, 2010 @ 11:45 PM


Danielson, Conn. —
A Dayville mother charged with murder in the death of her infant son waived her right to a probable cause hearing Thursday at her appearance in Danielson Superior Court.

Melissa O’Connor, 23, sat in handcuffs and ankle shackles wiping tears from her cheeks before Judge Antonio Robaina.

With a social worker by her side, O’Connor answered several questions from Robaina in a barely audible whisper. She agreed to forego a hearing in which state prosecutors would present evidence to convince a judge of the merits of the case against her.

Infant’s death
O’Connor is charged with killing her 20-month-old son, Bryce O’Connor, on April 15, the day police responded to her home at 826E Hartford Pike for reports of an unresponsive infant. The child was rushed to Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, where he was pronounced dead an hour later. Another child in the home at the time was not injured.

An autopsy revealed the child died from blunt force head trauma. The death was ruled a homicide by the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

The charges
O’Connor is charged with murder, first-degree assault, risk of injury to a minor and first-degree strangulation. Held on $1 million bond at York Correctional Institution in Niantic, O’Connor is due back in court Aug. 20. Represented by defense attorney Ernest Greene, she has not yet entered a plea.

At the request of state prosecutor Matthew Crockett, Judge Robaina on Thursday appointed attorney Traci Molinaro as legal guardian to represent the interests of the deceased child.

O’Connor also agreed to submit to DNA testing.

Details of the events that led to the toddler’s death remain unclear. The arrest warrant affidavit prepared by state police was ordered sealed after O’Connor’s arrest. At the time, Windham County State’s Attorney Patricia Froehlich said the reason for sealing, in part, was due to “ongoing investigation.”

The Danielson Superior Court clerk’s office Thursday said the file remained sealed but gave no specific timeline for an unsealing.

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/crime/x41626878/Dayville-woman-waives-hearing-in-son-s-death#axzz1LAEWlQFS

Dayville woman sentenced to 30 years for son's murder
During an emotional day in Danielson Superior Court on Friday, Melissa O’Connor of Dayville was sentenced to 30 years in prison for beating and strangling her toddler son more than two years ago.

By JOHN PENNEY
Posted Dec. 15, 2012 @ 12:01 am
Updated Dec 15, 2012 at 3:03 PM

Danielson, Conn. - During an emotional day in Danielson Superior Court on Friday, Melissa O’Connor of Dayville was sentenced to 30 years in prison for beating and strangling her toddler son more than two years ago.

O’Connor, 25, pleaded guilty to murder in October under the Alford Doctrine, in the death of her 20-month-old son, Bryce, on April 15, 2010. Under the Alford Doctrine, a defendant does not agree with all the state’s allegations, but agrees that a conviction — and a stiffer sentence — is likely if a case goes to trial.

According to Assistant State’s Attorney Matthew Crockett, O’Connor left her Hartford Pike apartment on the morning of the murder to drive her husband to work, leaving Bryce alone in a playpen for roughly 30 minutes. When she returned, O’Connor told police she became frustrated and “snapped” when she tried to dress her son, accusing him of “pouting, giving her the evil eye” and fighting her.

O’Connor struck Bryce multiple times in the head, chest and arms with a closed fist to “shut him up,” and choked him until his “eyes rolled back, his body stiffened and he became unresponsive,” Crockett said.

She left the child still breathing in an upstairs room of the apartment she shared with another son, and other family members to call her husband.

“Bryce was still breathing, but she didn’t call 911,” Crockett said.

Shortly after, O’Connor called police to say her son was not breathing and then wiped blood from Bryce’s face and mouth, Crockett said.

When police arrived, they found O’Connor kneeling by an unresponsive Bryce. The boy was rushed by ambulance to Day Kimball Hospital, where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later. O’Connor told police this was not the first time she had struck Bryce, though it had never gotten so out of hand before, Crockett said.

The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the child’s death a homicide caused by blunt-force head trauma and asphyxiation. An autopsy found Bryce suffered multiple bruises, a fractured clavicle and brain swelling.

“This was a very violent, painful death that required constant pressure on his throat,” said Crockett, who argued for a 40-year sentence for O’Connor. “He didn’t die right away. He’s dead because his mother killed him.”

O’Connor, 25, shuddered and sobbed during the proceedings, but did not address the court.

Her former mother-in-law was not so silent.

“I watched Bryce born at Day Kimball Hospital,” said Lynnette Larubina, who lived with O’Connor and Bryce. “He was a loving, carefree, happy baby boy. Bryce could light up the darkest places with just his smile. His laugh was infectious and sincere. I can still see him climbing down the stairs all bright-eyed, smiling ear from ear.”

Larubina said the family has been shattered by the murder, their personal lives turned upside down as they’ve tried to fathom how such a crime could have happened. She spoke of a daughter who took Bryce overnight the day before his death.

“She keeps saying, ‘If I didn’t bring him back, Mom, he would be here with us today,”’ Larubina said. “I am sick to my stomach thinking Bryce saw his mother’s face while this was going on. There is nothing that little boy could have done to deserve this. What are we going to tell his brother, Patrick, when he is old enough? How do you tell a son, a grandson, his mother did this to his brother?”

Ernest Green, O’Connor’s public attorney, said his client has a history of mental health problems, but never intended to kill her son. He then asked Judge Michael Riley for consideration.

“There are moments when the interests of justice and mercy (coincide),” he said.

Riley, who called the crime, “a tragedy of appalling dimensions,” said O’Connor’s actions indicated she tried to cover-up the murder by wiping blood from the child’s face before police arrived.

“Mercy and justice are considerations, but I’m not sure that’s the case here — there needs to be punishment,” he said. “These are the worst types of crimes. Most parents would give their lives for their children.”


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