Connecticut
CT man sentenced to 35 years for role in killing of rideshare driver dumped in park near playground
A New Haven man was sentenced to 35 years in prison on Thursday for his role in the killing of a rideshare driver whose body was dumped in a park in Woodbridge in 2021, officials said.
Jorden Rudel, 27, was sentenced by Judge Gerald L. Harmon after pleading guilty in New Haven Superior Court to a charge of felony murder following an investigation into the fatal shooting of 33-year-old Rondell Atkinson on June 7, 2021, according to the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice.
Multiple law enforcement agencies investigated the homicide that culminated in a trial of Rudel’s co-defendant, Rickey Traynham, in May 2023.
According to the arrest warrant affidavits in the case, Atkinson, a West Haven man who worked for New Haven’s ride service for seniors and ride-sharing services like Uber, was targeted by Rudel and Traynham in a robbery plot at the Pease Road Playground in Woodbridge.
Rudel reportedly told family members after the killing that he and a friend attempted to rob a driver who previously helped him with “off the books” rides before shooting him upon realizing the victim could identify them, court records showed.
Atkinson’s body was left at the Alegi Athletic Fields in Woodbridge, where he was found by a jogger the morning after he was killed, according to the affidavits.
Four days after the shooting, detectives found Atkinson’s car near a dumpster in an apartment parking lot in New Haven, about a half-mile away from where Traynham lived. They found Traynham’s fingerprints on the vehicle and were able to track down a woman whose phone was the last device to connect to the car’s Bluetooth stereo, court records showed. The woman told investigators she had sex with Traynham in the backseat of the car a day or two after the murder, according to court records.
An investigation also showed that Traynham and Rudel unsuccessfully tried to withdraw money from Atkinson’s bank accounts through Cash App following his death, court records showed.
Traynham was found in possession of the two murder weapons when police arrested him on July 11, 2021, according to officials.
A Superior Court jury on May 30, 2023, found Traynham guilty of murder, and he was sentenced by Judge Elpedio N. Vitale to 80 years in prison on Aug.4, 2023.
“We are grateful to the Woodbridge Police Department, Connecticut State Police, and Division of Scientific Services for their tireless work on this investigation,” State’s Attorney John P. Doyle, Jr. said in a release on Thursday. “We appreciate all of Rondell’s family and friends who showed up at Rudel’s sentencing today to let the court know of the positive impact Rondell’s life had on his community and how much he will be missed. Although Rondell can never be replaced, we hope the sentences of these two defendants have brought a sense of justice and closure to all of those impacted.”
Connecticut
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.
Connecticut
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.
The crash remains under investigation.
Connecticut
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.
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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