Steven James Uricchio, 31, has been charged with the murder of his 83-year-old father, Marc Uricchio, in Ridgefield, Connecticut, marking the town's first murder in over 20 years. Uricchio confessed to the crime when police arrived early Saturday morning. The incident, described by Uricchio's lawyer as a "tragedy of Shakespearean dimensions," has shocked the community.
According to the police report, Uricchio made a call to the authorities himself, admitting he had harmed his father. When officers arrived at the residence around 1 am, they found Uricchio outside, visibly disheveled, with blood on his hands and sweating profusely. He immediately confessed to the officers that he had murdered his father "really, really badly."
Inside the house, officers discovered a gruesome scene with blood stains on the stairs and walls and a bloodied fillet knife. Marc Uricchio's body was found in his bedroom, severely mutilated, with some internal organs removed and placed outside his body. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
This incident has deeply disturbed the small town of Ridgefield, known for its safety, with the last murder occurring in 2003. "This is a very safe community. The killing shakes the town up," said Police Captain Jeffrey Raines.
Steven Uricchio was initially taken to a local hospital for a medical evaluation while handcuffed to a stretcher. He revealed that he had not taken his prescribed medication for a month and was using cannabis regularly. Following his discharge from the hospital, he was placed on suicide watch at the Ridgefield police headquarters.
In court on Monday, Uricchio appeared nearly unconscious and required assistance to stand. His lawyer, Willie Dow, emphasized Uricchio's severe mental health issues and reiterated the tragic nature of the case. The court has ordered a mental health evaluation and continued the suicide watch for Uricchio. His bail is set at $1.5 million, and he is scheduled to appear in court again on September 4.
This case has not only highlighted the tragic loss of life but also underscored the need for addressing mental health issues within the community. The town of Ridgefield is left grappling with the shock and horror of this unprecedented crime.
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