Naugatuck police release details of infant’s brutal killing; FBI offers $10K reward as manhunt intensifies for suspect father

An intense manhunt continued Monday for a convicted felon accused of brutally killing his 11-month-old daughter and dismembering her body.

Marissa Alter

Nov 21, 2022, 4:33 PM

Updated 691 days ago

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An intense manhunt continued Monday for a convicted felon accused of brutally killing his 11-month-old daughter and dismembering her body. Naugatuck police said Christopher Francisquini, 31, was out on parole and cut off his court-mandated ankle monitor before going on the run.
Francisquini strangled and stabbed Camilla Francisquini inside their home at 150 Millville Avenue Friday morning, according to police. They responded there around 11:30 a.m. after a family member, whom police would not identify, discovered the child dead. When first responders arrived, they found Camilla’s little body “in a state of dismemberment.”
Chief Colin McAllister called it one of the most difficult and trying cases they’ve ever had to investigate.
“This is an unconscionable act. It is a heinous crime,” McAllister said at a news conference Monday. He added that a motive was still unknown.
“I think that’s a question that we’re all struggling with at this point. What would lead somebody to do this? Much less to their own child?” he said.
Police secured an arrest warrant charging Francisquini with murder with special circumstances—which carries a mandatory life sentence if convicted—and risk of injury to a minor.
The FBI is involved in the search, along with Connecticut State Police and other local law enforcement. They have offered a $10,000 reward for his capture. Francisquini is considered armed and dangerous. Police said anyone who sees him, should not approach, and instead contact police.
“My message to Francisquini is turn yourself in immediately. We will not rest until we take you into custody. We will be putting forth every effort to locate and apprehend this suspect and bring him to justice,” McAllister stated.
Police believe after killing Camilla, Francisquini got into an argument with the child’s mother, though she was unaware of her daughter’s death at the time. The couple got into a dispute in the parking lot of Petco in Waterbury, during which Francisquini destroyed the woman’s phone, according to Waterbury police. She was not injured during the incident.
On Friday evening, the car Francisquini was driving was found abandoned on I-91 in New Haven after a tip from the public. The next day, police released surveillance pictures of a person believed to be Francisquini walking on Quinnipiac Avenue in New Haven around 4 p.m. Friday.
“If anyone out there is providing aid, assisting or helping hide Francisquini, you yourself are not safe. This suspect has shown predisposition to violence,” McAllister said.
Francisquini has prior convictions for assault, drug charges, interfering with an officer, violation of a protective order, threatening and criminal mischief. He was out on special parole after serving several years in prison for first-degree assault. Since then, he’s been arrested several other times and has five pending cases including for carjacking, larceny, burglary, and assault on a police officer. He was out on bonds that totaled $375,000 at the time.
On Monday, a memorial of teddy bears and flowers sat outside the home where the unimaginable had happened. Neighbors said Francisquini lived there with several other family members including his parents. One man who didn’t want to speak on camera said the family had been there for four or five years and always seemed nice.
“They’d do normal family stuff that you’d see. You know, they were on their back porch and stuff. They just kept to themselves. They were quiet,” added neighbor Kelly Moss. “I feel for the family.”
Moss was speechless when she learned about the new details of the murder released by police. “I don’t know what to say,” she told News 12. “I have six children and 11—number 11 grandchild on the way. I just—I don’t understand makes somebody turn like that and do that.”
A GoFundMe campaign is underway to raise money for a proper burial for Camilla.
Anyone with information on Francisquini’s whereabouts is asked to call Naugatuck police at 203-729-5222 or the confidential tip line at 203-720-1010.