CONTENT WARNING: GRAPHIC DETAILS:
A 31-year-old man faces murder charges in connection with the “gruesome” death of his father, an incident that has stunned one of the oldest and generally safest towns in America.
Steven James Uricchio from Ridgefield, Connecticut, was taken into custody on Saturday and charged with murder after authorities responded to a domestic violence call and discovered his father deceased within the household. He was held over the weekend on a $1.5 million bond and did not enter a plea during his court appearance on Monday, according to online records.
The Ridgefield Police Department confirmed that the deceased is Marc Joel Uricchio, 83, Steven’s father. A police report obtained by local news source The Hour revealed that the victim had sustained severe injuries, with his face, abdomen, and groin showing signs of mutilation, while some of his internal organs were found outside of his body.
At the arraignment hearing, Danbury State’s Attorney David Applegate characterized the crime as “gruesome” but did not provide additional details, as reported by The Hour.
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Steven James Uricchio was arrested and charged with murder after his 83-year-old father was found dead on Saturday.
(Ridgefield Police Department)
Defense attorney Willie Dow mentioned that he has had only “limited” communication with Uricchio and expressed concerns regarding his client’s mental health. Dow reportedly requested that suicide watch measures continue due to Uricchio’s significant mental health history.
During the court hearing, Uricchio was seen leaning forward with his head resting on a table and initially refused to stand when directed by Superior Court Judge Thomas Saadi. Court marshals eventually had to make him stand, according to The Hour.
Following this, the judge ordered a competency evaluation to determine if Uricchio is fit to stand trial.
Uricchio is scheduled to appear in court again on September 4.
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Police responded to a domestic violence call at the residence around 1 a.m. on Saturday.
(Google Maps)
The police report details disturbing aspects of the incident. Officers responded to a call for domestic disturbances on Powderhorn Drive at 1 a.m. Saturday, where the caller claimed he had harmed his father, as reported by The Hour.
Upon arrival, officials found Uricchio with his hands raised, dressed in a dark blue T-shirt and boxer shorts. Officers commanded him to walk towards them with his arms outstretched.
When he reached the end of the walkway leading to the front door, they instructed him to lie on the ground with his arms extended. After a pat-down for weapons, police noted he was sweating heavily and appeared to have blood on his hands.
When asked what he had done to his father, Uricchio allegedly confessed, “I murdered him,” then added, “really, really badly.”
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Officers restrained Uricchio and inquired about his father’s whereabouts. He indicated that his father was in an upstairs bedroom.
Upon entering the home for further investigation, police reported observing blood drops on the stairs and blood on both sides of the walls. They found a blood-stained filet knife at the top of the staircase. The victim, Marc Uricchio, was located in his bedroom, lying on the floor, face up, with reports of significant mutilation and some organs found outside his body. Medics pronounced him dead on the scene.
Steven Uricchio was subsequently charged with murder.
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This shocking event marks the first homicide in Ridgefield since 2003, according to police Capt. Jeffrey Raines, who shared that “such a killing shakes the town up” due to its reputation as a very safe community.
Ridgefield, incorporated in 1709, was recognized as the safest city in America last year by NeighborhoodScout, reporting a total crime rate of 1.9 per 1,000 residents, with a victimization chance of 1 in 510.
After his arrest, Uricchio mentioned experiencing stomach issues due to consuming a quarter bottle of Advil earlier. He was taken to Danbury Hospital and was handcuffed to a bed while staff performed an evaluation.
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The suspect informed doctors of a prescription medication he hadn’t taken “in a month or two” and mentioned occasional cannabis use, per The Hour.
He returned to police custody following his hospital discharge.
The investigation is being directed by the Ridgefield Police Department’s Detective Division and the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Squad.
“We want to reassure everyone that this was an isolated incident and there is no danger to the public,” stated police officials.
