Home Invasion

You know the world is a scary place when you can't feel safe behind a locked door inside your own home.

Monday July 23, 2007 the Petit family of Cheshire, CT found out how horrendous the world can be. At around 3:00 am, two men, who were out on parole for numerous burglaries, broke into their home. When Dr. William Petit, the husband and father of the family confronted the intruders, he was beaten with a baseball bat. He was then tied up and left to die in the basement of his own home.

The intruders then made their way to the second floor of the home where Mrs. Jennifer Hawke-Petit, Hayley (17) and Michaela (11) were all sleeping. The two intruders then raped the wife, Jennifer and the youngest daughter Michaela. They then tied the daughters to their beds. Around 9:00 am, after 6 hours of torture, one of the intruders forced the wife to drive to the nearest bank and withdraw $15,000 where she alerted bank personnel that she needed help at her home. After returning to the house, the intruders poured gasoline around the two daughters beds. In addition, they strangled Jennifer Hawke-Petit and poured gasoline around her body. Finally, they lit the house on fire. Killing both daughters.

By the time the police made it to the Petit family house, it was in flames. The only survivor being Dr. William Petit who amazingly made it out. The intruders tried to get away with the family's Chrysler Pacifica but were stopped by a police road block.

This crime has made the whole community of Cheshire feel shocked and at risk. No one deserves this. Especially this family. Jennifer Hawke-Petit was diagnosed with MS numerous years ago. Her eldest daughter found it to be her responsibility to raise money for MS each year. In 8 years, "Hayley's Hope" raised more than $54,000. She recently graduated from Miss Porter's school. A well known prep school in CT. She was to follow in her dad's footsteps and was enrolled to go to Dartmouth college this fall.

Her younger sister idolized her. She was to start her own group to raise money for MS called "Michaela's Miracle." In addition, she loved to cook, and made her family her favorite meal the night before their home was invaded.

Last but certainly not least, Jennifer Hawke-Petit was the school nurse at Cheshire Academy but acted also as a mother away from home. Students come to Cheshire Academy from all over the world and she always made sure they felt comfortable at school and would treat them as she would her own children.

It is very unfortunate that anyone has to deal with a crime this horrible.