CT Funeral Home Owner Launches Campaign To Help Victims Of Alleged $70K Vernon Funeral Scam
A group is working to help victims of an alleged Connecticut funeral scam involving a former funeral home owner accused of embezzling more than $70,000 from funds meant for burials and other services, to allegedly fuel his gambling habit.
Philip Pietras, 51, of Coventry, was arrested Sunday, April 6, and charged with first-degree larceny, according to Connecticut State Police.
Dozens of people had given Pietras money intended for escrow accounts, which would have been available to cover funeral costs when needed, police said. They later learned the money was never deposited, and now they mu…
Vernon Funeral Home Owner Stole $71K From Clients to Fund Gambling, Shopping Sprees: Police
A Connecticut funeral home owner was arrested this week after police said he embezzled $71,000 from mentally and physically disabled clients, using the funds to gamble, shop, and dine out.
Philip Pietras, 51, of Coventry, was taken into custody on Sunday, April 6, and charged with first-degree larceny, according to Connecticut State Police.
Police began investigating Pietras in October 2024 after a financial agency that manages funds for disabled adults reported discrepancies in payments sent to one of Pietras’ funeral homes.
Pietras owns four funeral homes, including Bassinger and Do…
Avon High School Junior Dies Suddenly, 16: Remembering Tommy Lowell
A Connecticut community is reeling after the unexpected death of a 16-year-old boy remembered as a cherished son, friend, and classmate. Now, many in the community are stepping up to help his grieving family navigate the unthinkable.
Thomas "Tommy" Edward Lowell IV, who lived in East Windsor and Bristol before moving to Avon, where he was a high school junior, died unexpectedly on Monday, Dec. 9. His family wrote in his obituary on the Vincent Funeral Home website that he was known for his quick wit, love of silly jokes, and devotion to his cats, Milo and Ollie.
“Whether shar…
Police ID Man Who Stole Car With Baby Inside In Western Mass
Police have identified the man who sparked a statewide Amber Alert when he stole a vehicle in Western Massachusetts, on Friday morning, March 29, that had a 3-year-old baby inside.
Vadim Vorobyov, age 52, of Springfield, is charged with kidnapping, child endangerment, and fugitive from justice in Connecticut and is also expected to be charged with kidnapping, child endangerment, and motor vehicle larceny in Massachusetts, State Police said.
Vorobyov stole the running car when he came across it outside of a home on Exchange Street in Chicopee around 8:40 a.m., police said. T…
CT Construction Company Owner, Employee Charged In Trench Collapse Death
The owner of a Connecticut construction company and an equipment operator has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of a worker who was buried in a collapsed trench.
The incident took place in Tolland County on Friday, July 22, 2022, at a construction site in Vernon that killed Hartford County resident, Dennis Slater, age 56, of East Windsor.
Hartford County resident Dennis Botticello, age 67, of Suffield, and Tolland County resident Glen Locke, age 65, of Somers, were charged on Friday, March 3 in connection with a fatal trench collapse, said Lt. Robert Marr…
How Much Snow Did You Get? A Look At Totals From Throughout Region
The most potent winter storm of the season has resulted in scores of school closures and slippery travel conditions.
Here's a look at some snowfall totals reported to the National Weather Service and other sources on Tuesday morning, Feb. 28.
If you don't see your town listed, post the total in a comment.
New York
Manhattan
Central Park, 1.8 inches
Nassau County
Manhasset Hills, 3.5 inches
Herricks, 3.5 inches
Suffolk County
Commack, 5 inches
Centereach, 4.5 inches
Mattituck, 4.5 inches
Mount Sina, 4.5 inches
Bridgehampton, 4.4 inches
Rockland County
Stony Point, 6.1 inc…
CT Resident Sentenced For Recruiting, Transporting Teen Girl To Engage In Commercial Sex
A 24-year-old man has been sentenced after he admitted to bringing a 16-year-old girl to a Connecticut hotel to engage in commercial sex acts.
Joel Lindsay, who last resided in East Hartford, was sentenced on Thursday, Sept. 22, to more than 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to sex trafficking of a minor on Oct. 15, 2021, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Lindsay conspired with an associate, Joseph Pina, to recruit and transport a 16-year-old girl to engage in commercial sex acts in October of 2019, the US Attorney's Offi…
Sushi Sold At Supermarkets In CT, MA Recalled Due To Undeclared Allergens
A company has recalled several sushi products that were sold at supermarkets in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Food, Standards and Product Safety issued a food safety warning on Thursday, Aug. 11, for EZ Noble Sushi, which was available for purchase during the week of Monday, Aug. 8, at Geissler’s Supermarkets in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
EZ Noble Sushi recalled several products that contain undeclared eggs, wheat, and milk.
“Properly labeling food products is critical to protecting the health and safety of consumers," Consu…
Trio Nabbed After Robbery Spree Targeting CT Stores Statewide
Three Connecticut men have been charged with committing at least eight robberies of convenience and smoke shops across the state earlier this year.
The three were indicted by a grand jury on Thursday, June 16 in New Haven County, said Vanessa Roberts Avery, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Those charged include Steven Galarza, age 24, of Seymour; Efrain Deleon, age 58, and Gilberto Deleon, age 56, both of New Britain, officials said.
As alleged in the indictment and other court documents, between February and March, the men, using fake firearms robbed the following retail locat…
