Conn. man pleads guilty to fatally shooting childhood friend, killing man with samurai sword

MILFORD, Conn. (TCD) -- A 26-year-old man recently pleaded guilty to several charges in connection with the deaths of two people, including a childhood friend, and the kidnapping of another in 2020.

On Feb. 8, Peter Manfredonia entered a guilty plea in Rockville Superior Court for charges of murder, first-degree assault, and home invasion in the death of 62-year-old Theodore DeMers and injury of 80-year-old John Franco, the Connecticut State’s Attorney’s Office said.

According to Manfredonia’s arrest warrant, on Friday, May 22, 2020, Connecticut State Police responded to Mirtl Road in Willington after learning two men were in the road bleeding. One of the victims lost a limb. DeMers died on the way to the hospital, and Franco was transported via Life Star helicopter to Hartford Hospital. Investigators found a samurai sword with "blood-like staining" in the woods nearby.

In the early hours of Saturday, May 23, Manfredonia went into a man’s house, held him at gunpoint, and tied him up. The 74-year-old man’s wrists were bound with zip ties and he was duct taped to a chair. Manfredonia told the man his name was Rick.

During their conversation, the news came on and Manfredonia’s face appeared on the screen. The victim asked if "Rick’s" real name was Peter, and he confirmed it was. The affidavit says Manfredonia told the man tied to the chair he killed DeMers because he "hadn’t slept for five days and that he just flipped."

He reportedly said he "didn’t know why he did it and that he was remorseful."

Manfredonia held the man captive for about 24 hours and fled with the victim’s truck May 24. Investigators found the truck abandoned in the grass, which led police to the man’s home, where he was still tied up.

A few hours after leaving the man’s house, Manfredonia went to Nicholas Eisele’s apartment and fatally shot him. He then kidnapped Eisele’s girlfriend and held her at gunpoint for over seven hours before letting her go. Police found her unharmed at a rest stop in New Jersey. According to NBC Connecticut, Manfredonia was a student at University of Connecticut at the time of the killings.

A manhunt for Manfredonia ensued, and he was apprehended in Maryland on May 27, 2020.

On Thursday, Feb. 16, Manfredonia pleaded guilty to murder and first-degree kidnapping.

According to the State’s Attorney’s Office, Manfredonia faces 55 years in prison.

He will be sentenced April 20.

MORE:

• Peter Manfredonia Pleads Guilty to Murder, Assault and Home Invasion Charges - Connecticut State's Attorney's Office
• Peter Manfredonia Pleads Guilty to Murder and Kidnapping Charges - Connecticut State's Attorney's Office
• Peter Manfredonia probable cause affidavit
• Peter Manfredonia Pleads Guilty After Allegedly Killing 2 People, Kidnapping Another in 2020 - NBC Connecticut