Medical examiner: 11-year-old likely had slow, painful death from smoke in Conn. home invasion

Med examiner describes home invasion victim death

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Connecticut’s medical examiner has described a painful smoke inhalation death likely suffered by an 11-year-old girl killed along with her mother and sister in a 2007 home invasion.

Wayne Carver testified Wednesday in the trial of Steven Hayes. Hayes is one of two men charged with murder, sexual assault and other crimes in the deaths of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters Hayley and Michaela.

Carver said soot in Michaela’s lungs and air passages showed she died from breathing smoke after the men set fire to her home, and likely had a painful, panic-stricken death.

Dr. William Petit, who survived the attacks on his family, left the courtroom as Carver prepared to take the stand. A week ago, Petit sobbed when jurors were shown photos of his daughters’ bodies. After court on Wednesday he called it “another tough day.”