By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
Investigations Editor

It has been more than 10 weeks since two dogs trained to detect cadavers alerted searchers to a location of interest in the case of missing Waterbury man William “Billy” Smolinski Jr.
However, police have not yet done a search of the property, public land in Beacon Falls, to see if Smolinski’s remains are there.
Smolinski’s family members, who have been waiting almost a decade for his body to be found, said this week the delay is “frustrating.”

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(Peter Hvizdak - New Haven Register) Janice Smolinski, of Cheshire searches areas of a wooded Valley area Sunday following up tips received her and his husband Bill Smolinski, Sr., about the location of their missing son Bill Smolinski, Jr.'s body. Two volunteer certified search and rescue cadaver dog teams were involved in the search. 

 

By Pamela McLoughlin
Register Staff
A key piece in the puzzle of finding Billy Smolinski — who disappeared nearly 10 years ago — may have fallen into place Sunday.
A cadaver dog, K-9 Murphy, and his handler, Debbie Monde, animal control officer in Newington and Wethersfield, provided the clue at a spot in the Valley that cannot be disclosed. A second, unidentified dog involved in similar work reinforced the possible find.
For Bill and Janice Smolinski, who have never given up the search for their son’s body — working on the case daily — it’s a glimmer of hope, but they’ve been disappointed many times before.

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CHECK OUT THIS JULY UPDATE here.  

 

By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
Investigations Editor

HARTFORD >> The family of missing Waterbury man William “Billy” Smolinski Jr. is appealing to the state Supreme Court, in the hope of overturning a civil ruling which 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.
Janice Smolinski said Thursday the family plans to appeal to the state Supreme Court.

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By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
Investigations Editor
HARTFORD >> The state Appellate Court heard arguments Wednesday on whether two family members of missing man William "Billy" Smolinski Jr. should have to pay a $52,666 judgment to Smolinski’s former girlfriend.
Superior Court Judge Thomas Corradino in 2012 awarded $52,666 in damages to Madeleine Gleason of Woodbridge, who had dated Smolinski until they broke up just before his 2004 disappearance.
Gleason sued his mother, Janice Smolinski of Cheshire, and sister, Paula Bell, in 2006, claiming they harassed, defamed and falsely accused her of involvement in his disappearance. Corradino’s award included $32,000 for intentional infliction of emotional distress, $7,500 for defamation and $13,166 in punitive damages.
The Smolinski family appealed Corradino’s ruling to the state Appellate Court, and attorneys for both sides presented their arguments Wednesday. A decision is expected to take several months.

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Hanson

By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
Investigations Editor
DERBY — On what would have been missing man William “Billy” Smolinski’s 40th birthday Monday, a man accused of lying to police about the location of his body pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 4½ years in prison.
Chad Hanson, 33, of Seymour pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement concerning injury or death in Superior Court.
Hanson was arrested after he led state police to conduct an unsuccessful 10-day search in Oxford, near Prokop Road and Woodruff Hill Road, for Smolinski’s body in October 2011.
Hanson has also given information to police that led to unsuccessful searches in Seymour in 2008 and in the Naugatuck State Forest in 2010.

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