UConn student accused in 2 killings pleads not guilty to new charges

The UConn student accused of killing two men and leading law enforcement officials on a manhunt through multiple states in May was arraigned in court Tuesday.

News 12 Staff

Jul 21, 2020, 4:25 PM

Updated 1,374 days ago

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The University of Connecticut student accused of murdering two people before leading police on a multistate manhunt pleaded not guilty to the second murder on Tuesday.
Peter Manfredonia, 23, was arraigned in Milford Superior Court on charges connected to the alleged crimes in Derby.
The family of murder victim Nicholas Eisele was in the courtroom for the hearing. His father wore a mask with the words "Nick WE LOVE YOU."
Manfredonia virtually appeared before a judge on six new charges, including that he murdered his childhood friend from Newtown and kidnapped the victim's girlfriend. He was officially charged Monday with the shooting death of Eisele.
Police say he then forced Eisele's girlfriend to drive him south during his run from law enforcement. Gene Riccio, her attorney, read a statement from his client after court.
"The healing process cannot begin until we can be assured that justice has been served and Peter Manfredonia is held accountable for his actions that altered and destroyed the lives of both Nick, myself, and countless others," it read.

Court documents detail her account of the morning of May 24. She told police Eisele was killed when he tried to stop Manfredonia from going after her as she tried to call 911.
That was two days after police say Manfredonia attacked two men with a sword in Willington, killing one of them.
"Nicholas Eisele will forever be remembered as a loving, protective boyfriend, but also a hero following his own selfless actions on that day," her statement continued. "We will insist that Peter Manfredonia is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Read Manfredonia's arrest warrant:
 Manfredonia's parents were also in the courtroom initially, but left before the arraignment began.
Attorney Michael Dolan, representing Manfredonia, declined to comment on his client's state of mind or the facts of the case.
Police captured Manfredonia at a truck stop in Hagerstown, Maryland, on May 27. He previously pleaded not guilty to the crimes in Willington.
The judge kept his bond at $5 million. That's on top of the $7 million bond he's being held on for the previous charges.
The next court date in the case is Sept. 1.
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