Press Releases
02/16/2023
Peter Manfredonia Pleads Guilty to Murder and Kidnapping Charges
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Milford, CT) – Margaret E. Kelley, Ansonia/Milford State’s Attorney, announced that Peter Manfredonia, age 26, of Newtown, pleaded guilty today in Milford Superior Court to Murder in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-54a, and Kidnapping in the First Degree with a Firearm in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-92a.
Manfredonia’s plea follows his arrest in connection with the fatal shooting of Nicholas Eisele, 23, and the kidnapping of Eisele’s girlfriend in Derby on May 24, 2020. Court records show Manfredonia fled Connecticut with the girlfriend and held her captive at gunpoint for more than seven hours before authorities found her unharmed at a rest stop in New Jersey. Local, state and federal authorities searched for Manfredonia before arresting him in Maryland on May 27, 2020.
Manfredonia faces a total effective sentence of 55 years in prison when he is sentenced in Milford Superior Court on April 19, 2023.
The case is being prosecuted by State’s Attorney Kelley.
On February 8, 2023, Manfredonia pleaded pleaded guilty in Rockville Superior Court to Murder in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-54a, Assault in the First Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-59(a) and Home Invasion in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-100(a)(a).
Those charges stem from the May 22, 2020 fatal sword attack of Theodore DeMers, 62, the wounding of an elderly Willington man, and a home invasion in Willington in which Manfredonia held the homeowner hostage for 24 hours before fleeing with the man’s truck and firearms to Eisele’s home in Derby.
Manfredonia faces a total effective sentence of 55 years in prison when he is sentenced in Rockville Superior Court on April 20, 2023. That case is being prosecuted by Tolland State’s Attorney Matthew C. Gedansky.
The two prison sentences are to run concurrently.