Manhunt underway for UConn student Peter Manfredonia suspected in two murders

DERBY, Connecticut -- The FBI has joined law enforcement across 3 states in the manhunt for University of Connecticut student Peter Manfredonia, who is wanted in a pair of murders.

The 23-year-old was last seen in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania on Sunday night after he abandoned a stolen vehicle.

The manhunt began after a homicide on Friday. Manfredonia was seen leaving the scene of a homicide and assault on Mirtl Road in Willington, Connecticut around 9 a.m. Friday.

According to police, two elderly men were found suffering from injuries. One of those victims, 62-year-old Theodore Demers, died from his injuries.

Officers say the suspect also held a homeowner in Willington against his will Sunday morning and stole his truck and firearms. That homeowner was not hurt.

The truck was later found near Osbornedale State Park in Derby.

While searching the park, investigators later found an acquaintance of Manfredonia lived nearby. Police found that man, identified as 23-year-old Nicholas J. Eisele, dead in his home. Manfredonia fled the area in Eisele's Volkswagen.

While at that scene, police determine there may have been another individual in the house at the time who was taken against their will.

Later, authorities in Patterson, NJ notified the Connecticut State Police that the individual was found in their city. The individual was not injured and brought back to Connecticut.

State police said the person did positively identify the captor as Manfredonia.

After the murder in Derby, Newtown Police stepped up patrols and increased manpower out of an abundance of caution.

The suspect has very strong ties to Newtown, they said.

Authorities focused their search at Osbornedale State Park in Derby until the Volkswagen was found in New Jersey near the Pennsylvania border off Interstate 80 at 3:18 p.m.

Manfredonia was last seen in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. It is unknown how he got across state lines.
"We know that he is armed and dangerous," Trooper 1st Class Christine Jeltema said. "If anybody has any information or if they see this individual please do not approach him and call 911."