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Quiet Corner residents say crime and drugs linked
By DON BOND | Norwich Bulletin | December 18, 2005

WOODSTOCK-- The brutal death of a prominent Woodstock school social worker last Monday brought home a grim realization to many northeastern Connecticut residents: The area known as the "Quiet Corner" is not really quiet any more.

The death of Judith Nilan, 44, whose body was discovered Tuesday in the storage area of a picnic cabana on the property of television actor Caroll Spinney, who plays Big Bird on "Sesame Street," was the region's second homicide in less than two months, and the third since early September.

Scott Deojay, 36, of 2 Texas Heights Road, Central Village, a caretaker at Spinney's residence, has been charged with first-degree kidnapping in connection with Nilan's disappearance. Officials said Spinney had no connection to the incident.

On Oct. 28, the body of John Santana, 37, of Hampton, was discovered in a parking lot alongside the Central Hotel in the Central Village section of Plainfield. He was killed by a shotgun blast that struck him in the neck and chest.

The next night, state police arrested William R. Schnaidt, 22, of Oakdale, for Santana's murder in what the police affidavit characterized as a marijuana deal that went sour. Schnaidt faces a charge of felony murder and first-degree robbery in Windham County Superior Court.

On Sept. 7, a Thompson man, Thomas O'Neil, 56, was severely beaten outside his home in Grosvenordale, and died several days later at a Massachusetts hospital. O'Neil's girlfriend, Toni Demarais Martin, 46, also was assaulted.

A week later, police in Hampton Beach, N.H., captured Christopher Peltier, 30, of 683 Riverside Drive, Thompson, a former Webster, Mass., resident, who is accused of beating O'Neil with a metal table leg. Peltier has been charged with felony murder, first-degree robbery and second-degree assault, charges now pending in Windham County Superior Court.

Several residents contacted Saturday agreed there seems to be an increase in serious crime in the region, enough to make them more cautious.

"Does it make me lock my doors now? Yes," said Judy Rovero of Dayville. "Does it make me think twice about walking alone, especially at night? Yes.

"But," she said, "If people are cautious and remain aware of their surroundings, they'll be all right."

Rovero said she believes many of the serious crimes in the region appear to be drug-related, citing the Plainfield murder and the two-day search in early November for James E. Richitelli, 51, of Eastford, and Elizabeth A. Gagne, 29, of Willimantic, who were wanted for allegedly killing two people in Vermont in what police there said was an attempt to obtain marijuana.

Michael Bradley of Attawaugan agreed with Rovero many serious crimes appear to be drug-related.

"I've lived in the area for 20 years and I can remember people dealing and using mostly marijuana when I first came here. Today, there's a lot more sales of heroin and cocaine that you read about," Bradley said.

Philip Mahoney of Woodstock said while there's no simple answer to the region's increasingly serious crime, he believes the population growth, of city people moving to rural areas, has made an impact.

"I think people who've lived here all or most of their life are normally neighborly and caring," said Mahoney, who's lived in Woodstock for 30 years. "A small percentage of those moving in more recently don't seem as caring and have no respect for others or for life itself."

Lt. Michael Darcy, commanding officer of the Danielson state police barracks, said Nilan's death appears to be an anomaly for the town.

"I've been on the department for 17 years and I can't remember a homicide in Woodstock in that time, probably even several years longer," Darcy said.

While Darcy could not comment on the region's crime rate without researching statistics, he said the demands on troopers' time have increased because of added responsibilities and greater awareness of domestic violence and sex offenses.

"I think the educational component of domestic violence and sex offenses has made people more aware of their occurrence," Darcy said. "The number of these cases that are being reported has increased."

He called the three recent homicides "exceptional circumstances," adding, "I'm not sure they indicate there's an increase in the overall crime rate."

Despite the recent incidents, longtime Woodstock resident Nancy Young said her town is "still a wonderful place to live."

"It's a 'pull-together' community where people are willing to help their neighbors in times of trouble," Young said.

She acknowledges the region's population and popularity is growing.

"We have the available land for growth and people have found us," she said.

Reach Don Bond at 774-5563 or dbond@ norwichbulletin.com

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Carl Sagan Goodness Richard Dawkins Goodness

 

Buzzby

Ah! Yet another example of the wonderful things prohibition does for a community! Every day I thank God that the police are doing such a great job protecting us from ourselves.

Prohibition = Black Market Violence

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fight4rights

I like the name of the article. "Crime and drugs linked"
You mean making something illegal generates crime? Who'd a thunk?

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"Those who do no harm to others should not be harmed by others..." Ethan Nadelmann
"Revolution is not a right, it is an obligation." John Locke
"Do SOMETHING besides argue emotions against the law, because it simply isn't a rational way to affect any type of change whatsoever. No offense intended, but your opinion on things is a moot point unless you take actions to change the law, rather than ramble about how unfair or injust it is." troublemaker_42
"'Just say no' to drugs, except those marketed by big pharmaceutical companies." Ignorant Politicians

PotShot

Who would have thought that increased population would lead to increased criminal activity?