Connecticut Supreme Court to hear Smolinski family’s appeal
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
Investigations Editor
HARTFORD >> The state Supreme Court has agreed to hear the appeal of missing Waterbury man William “Billy” Smolinski Jr.’s family
members, who hope to overturn a civil ruling that ordered them to pay a $52,666
judgment to Smolinski’s former girlfriend.
In March, the state Appellate Court upheld the ruling of Superior Court Judge
Thomas Corradino, who awarded the amount to Madeleine Gleason of Woodbridge, for
intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation and punitive
damages.
Gleason, who dated Smolinski until they broke up just prior to his 2004
disappearance, sued his mother, Janice Smolinski of Cheshire, and his sister,
Paula Bell, in 2006, claiming they harassed, defamed and falsely accused her of
involvement in his disappearance.
Family of missing Billy Smolinski Jr. loses court appeal in defamation case
(Peter Casolino — Register file photo) Jan and Bill Smolinski of
Cheshire, are still looking for answers in the disappearance of their son,
Billy, who has been missing since 2004.
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
Investigations Editor
HARTFORD >> The state Appellate Court has upheld a judge’s ruling that
two family members of missing Waterbury man William “Billy” Smolinski Jr. should
have to pay a $52,666 judgment to Smolinski’s former girlfriend.
Madeleine Gleason of Woodbridge, who dated Smolinski until they broke up just
prior to his 2004 disappearance, sued his mother, Janice Smolinski of Cheshire,
and his sister, Paula Bell, in 2006, claiming they harassed, defamed and falsely
accused her of involvement in his disappearance.
Superior Court Judge Thomas Corradino in 2012 awarded $52,666 to Gleason, for
intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation and punitive
damages.
This Appellate Court decision upholds Corradino’s award.
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
Investigations Editor
Michelle Garvey of New London disappeared in June 1982, just days
before her 15th birthday, and police believe she ran away from home.
A month later, her remains were found in an open field in Houston.
But it would be three decades before police positively matched
the body found in Texas to Michelle, whose death was ruled a homicide.
Finding out Michelle’s fate was a collaboration of the
Connecticut State Police Missing Persons Unit and authorities in Texas.
Detectives with the unit got a DNA sample from Michelle’s family to
enter into a national database. Texas officials had exhumed the body to
get DNA samples. In January, state police announced a match had been
made.
The case is just one of the success stories for the Missing
Persons Unit. Two years ago, state police indicated they were revamping
the unit to include more investigators, with major crime detectives from
multiple districts.
Alleged conspirator in Billy Smolinski case throws tantrum over plea offer (document)
Hanson
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
Investigations Editor mtuccitto@nhregister.com
DERBY — A man accused of lying to police about the location of missing man William “Billy” Smolinski’s body swore and threw a tantrum in Superior Court Wednesday, after he learned a plea bargain offer was for more prison time than he had anticipated.
Connecticut to seek reimbursement from suspect in Smolinski searches; family to appeal defamation verdict
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
Investigations Editor
DERBY — The state wants Chad Hanson, who has led police to conduct unsuccessful searches for the body of William “Billy” Smolinski Jr. of Waterbury, to reimburse the cost.
Meanwhile, the Smolinski family is planning to appeal a recent civil ruling against them, and they have set up a legal defense fund.
NEW HAVEN — A judge on Friday awarded $52,666 in damages to Madeleine Gleason, the former girlfriend of missing man William “Billy” Smolinski who sued his family members, claiming they harassed her, defamed her and falsely accused her of involvement in his disappearance.
Superior Court Judge Thomas Corradino, in a 34 page ruling issued late Friday, awarded $32,000 to Gleason for intentional infliction of emotional distress, $7,500 for defamation, plus $13,166 in punitive damages.
Man accused of lying to police again in Smolinski disappearance
By Phyllis Swebilius
Register Staff
DERBY — Chad Hanson, 32, who has been identified in court papers as a suspect in the disappearance of Waterbury resident William Smolinski eight years ago, has been arrested again.
Hanson was charged with making a false report concerning injury or death, a felony, after state officials made a fruitless, 10-day search for Smolinski’s body at a wooded area in Oxford.
This blog is devoted to in-depth and investigative projects by New Haven Register staff. If you have a story idea, contact Editor Mark Brackenbury or call 203-789-5708.
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