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Connecticut parents get probation for hosting drunken high school party that led to fatal stabbing

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Connecticut parents get probation for hosting drunken high school party that led to fatal stabbing


The Connecticut parents who hosted a drunken high school house party that preceded the fatal stabbing of a 17-year-old were sentenced Wednesday to probation for allowing underage drinking.

Paul Leifer, 59, and Susanna Leifer, 52, will have their cases dismissed if they meet certain conditions, the Connecticut Post reported. Those conditions include not getting arrested again in the next two years, completing 50 hours of community service each, making $250 charitable donations and not hosting any parties that may include underage drinking.

A party at the Leifers’ house on May 14, 2022 ended in a fight, and some of the combatants met later that night down the road and brawled again. During the second confrontation, 17-year-old James McGrath was stabbed to death.

Raul Valle, now 18, was charged as an adult with murdering McGrath. He pleaded not guilty and rejected a plea deal in November.

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According to police, the Leifers’ daughter invited 15 to 20 students from her school, St. Joseph High, to the party. Prosecutors said the Leifers realized the teens were drinking, but allowed them to continue partying, the Connecticut Post reported.

The fight erupted when an uninvited group of students from a rival high school, Shelton High, tried to crash the party, according to police. The Leifers responded to the brawl by kicking everyone out.

But the disagreement continued until a small group of teens met shortly afterward at a nearby house. McGrath, who did not attend St. Joseph’s or Shelton High but instead was a student at Fairfield Prep, was stabbed to death at the second scene. Valle, a St. Joseph student, knew McGrath from outside school.

The Leifers were charged with allowing minors to possess alcohol. Susanna Leifer was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, after police said she gave one of the brawling kids his beer back. The families of McGrath and Valle have also sued the Leifers in civil court.



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Canadian aerospace company Bombardier launching new ‘fast track’ training program in Connecticut

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Canadian aerospace company Bombardier launching new ‘fast track’ training program in Connecticut


WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. (WTNH) — Bombardier, a Canadian company, is launching a new “fast track” training program in Connecticut.

The new program will expand Connecticut’s aerospace industry by creating an accelerated pathway for experienced aircraft maintenance technicians to receive new certifications and enter high-demand careers quickly.

“We know the demand for aviation technicians far exceeds the number of students we can currently prepare throughout our traditional programing alone,” Dr. Alice Pritchard, executive director of Connecticut technical education and career system, said. “Our goal is to create a sustainable workforce solution that can continue producing skilled aviation technicians for years to come.”

The program is set to start soon at the company’s service center at Bradley International Airport.

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Injuries reported in multi-vehicle crash on I-91 South in Hartford

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Injuries reported in multi-vehicle crash on I-91 South in Hartford


Injuries were reported in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 91 South in Hartford on Wednesday morning.

State police said the four-vehicle crash happened around 5:55 a.m.

The highway was briefly closed between exits 30 and 29A. It has since reopened.

According to state police, injuries were reported, but the extent is unknown.

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The crash remains under investigation.



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Avon daycare releases dates, times that former employee accused of sex assault worked at other Connecticut locations

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Avon daycare releases dates, times that former employee accused of sex assault worked at other Connecticut locations


AVON, Conn. (WTNH) — In light of recent information that a now-former Avon daycare employee accused of sexually assaulting children had filled in at multiple Connecticut locations, the company has released a timeline of when and where he had worked.

Jan Carlos Berrios Otero’s employment with BrightPath Early Learning began in January 2022, according to a letter sent out to families. Within the last four years, he had filled in at daycare locations in Simsbury, Windsor and West Hartford.

According to BrightPath, Berrios Otero had covered partial shifts at the following locations on the following days:

  • Simsbury, Jan. 20, 2026: Berrios Otero covered a shift for about four hours and 20 minutes
  • Windsor, Sept. 16, 2025: Berrios Otero covered a shift for about six hours at the 555 Day Hill Road location.
  • West Hartford, Sept. 24, 2025: Berrios Otero covered a shift for about three hours at the Park Road location

BrightPath stated that to its knowledge, there are no known allegations, complaints or incidents that occurred during these time frames.

Berrios Otero, 29, is facing six counts of risk of injury to a minor, six counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, and two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a minor for allegedly sexually assaulting five boys ages 3 to 5 during the month of March.

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BrightPath is working to identify all students who were in attendance in Berrios Otero’s classroom during the partial shifts that he had covered, and will communicate with the families directly as soon as possible, the letter stated.

“Please know, we also understand our review is taking a considerable amount of time; however, the time we take to ensure we are supplying the most accurate information is critical,” the letter said. “We are working diligently to get information to law enforcement and the appropriate governing agencies to support their investigations, and of course to all our families.”

According to BrightPath, Berrios Otero underwent a state and federal background check, which includes state and national criminal records searches and a review of the sex offender registry.

During the background check, which is renewed every five years, Berrios Otero had no prior convictions and was thoroughly vetted through the company’s hiring requirements. He additionally complied with staff qualifications and training.

The daycare says it is conducting a review of all of its records for the past four years across all of its Connecticut centers.

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