Accused infant-killer refuses to respond to judge again; town sells "Justice for Camilla" bracelets

Christopher Francisquini was arraigned Wednesday morning on charges he missed a recent court hearing in Milford while on the run.

Marissa Alter

Dec 7, 2022, 11:42 PM

Updated 667 days ago

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A Naugatuck man accused in the murder and mutilation of his infant daughter went before a judge for the third day in a row, this time at a virtual hearing in Milford Superior Court where he again refused to respond to the judge. Christopher Francisquini was arraigned Wednesday morning on charges he missed a recent court hearing in Milford while on the run.
"Sir, just state your full name and your date of birth for the record please....Mr. Francisquini can you state your name and your date of birth for the record?.... Can you hear me, sir?" asked Judge Peter Brown. Francisquini didn't acknowledge the judge. He continued to stare ahead. The hearing was delayed about seven minutes while court and prison staff made sure there wasn't a technical issue.
"He's not answering, but we can hear you, yes," a corrections officer said.
It was the same behavior Monday when Francisquini was arraigned in Waterbury Superior Court for allegedly stabbing, strangling and dismembering his 11-month-old daughter Camilla in their home on Millville Avenue on Nov. 18.
Francisquini was on special parole at the time after serving several years in prison for an assault in 2012. He was also on house arrest with a GPS ankle monitor which police say he cut off before evading capture for two weeks. During that time, Francisquini missed court hearings for pending charges in Bridgeport and Milford over a two-day period in November 2021. Francisquini is accused of a carjacking at the VA Hospital in West Haven and an escape attempt at the West Haven Police Department where multiple officers were attacked. The following day he allegedly assaulted two people at Bridgeport Correctional Center.
Brown set bond on the failure to appear charges at $750,000 for both Milford cases. That brings Francisquini's total bond for all pending cases out of Waterbury, Bridgeport and Milford Superior Court to almost $7 million. Public defender John Walkley told the court bond at this point "is pretty much academic." Francisquini's parole has been revoked so even if he did have the money to post bond, he could not be released. Francisquini was put on suicide watch at arraignments earlier this week.
According to Francisquini's warrant, Camilla's mother told police he'd been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and based on his behavior, probably wasn't taking his prescribed medication. She also said he'd been hearing voices, including ones telling him to kill his father.
Court records show just four days before the homicide, Francisquini appeared in court in Milford where a judge approved his request to be off house arrest on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. It was also noted Francisquini had been fully compliant with his release conditions up to that point.
The death of Camilla has rocked Naugatuck, which held a vigil on the town green Saturday on what would have been her first birthday. Her mother, through tears, thanked the crowd for their support and said Francisquini's arrest the day before was the best birthday present she could've gotten for her daughter.
The community continues to rally around her. Wednesday morning the town began selling pink "Justice for Camilla" bracelets for $2 each with all proceeds doing to Camilla's mom. The bracelets were available at town hall, The Loaded Goat and all Naugatuck Dunkin locations. Mayor Pete Hess told News 12 the 2,000 they got sold out within of couple hours.
"We're getting an overwhelming response from the community, and I'm very proud of our town," Hess said, adding that more bracelets have been ordered. "Naugatuck always comes together when we have a tragedy."
The mayor's office is also collecting larger donations for Camilla's mother. Anyone who wants to help, can make a check out to "Ion Bank" with the notation of "Justice for Camilla." Checks can be sent to: The Mayor's Office, 229 Church St., Naugatuck, CT, 06770.
"She's going to need help, and the community's going to help her," Hess said.