Authorities have detained Peter Manfredonia in Maryland after he was on the run for six days.
Manfredonia was arrested on Wednesday after he was spotted in a wooded area near Hagerstown, Maryland. Police Chief Paul Kifer said the 23-year-old gave himself up and walked out of the woods to be detained.
Prior to his arrest, Manfredonia had last been seen on Sunday near the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border. Authorities said he might have stolen another vehicle to drive further into the state. They noted that they believed he had taken an Uber into Hagerstown, triggering the citywide search.
The search for Manfredonia began on Friday after he allegedly killed a 62-year-old man, Ted DeMurs, and severely wounded another man in Willington, Connecticut. From there, authorities said Manfredonia broke into a home and held a man against his will until Sunday morning. Upon leaving the man’s home, Manfredonia stole his weapons, food, and his truck.
The truck was recovered on Sunday morning in Derby, Connecticut, after the owner called for help. Police were notified while searching for Manfredonia that he had a former acquaintance in the town. When police went to question this acquaintance, they found 23-year-old Nicholas Eisele dead. Manfredonia had kidnapped Eisele’s girlfriend and stolen his Volkswagen Jetta. The girlfriend and the Jetta were both found near the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border.
Manfredonia grew up in Newtown, Connecticut, and is a student at the University of Connecticut. The FBI and authorities in several states worked together to track him down. His family also contributed to the search by pleading for him to turn himself in.
“Peter, if you are listening, your entire family loves you. Nobody wants any harm to come to you. It’s time to let the healing process begin. It’s time to surrender,” an attorney for the family said.
