Sunday, January 20, 2013

From 2009: James O'Rourke, Conn. Lawmaker, Loses Post as Woman's Death Probed

Jim O'Rourke for Congress
The following is an extract from an article published nearly four years ago today in the Huffington Post (www.huffingtonpost.com).  State Representative Jim O'Rourke was suspended from his leadership post Friday amid reports he could face criminal charges in the death or a barefoot woman who died after fleeing the state rep's car.

HARTFORD, Conn. — A Connecticut state lawmaker was suspended from his leadership post Friday amid reports he could face a criminal charge in the death of a barefoot woman who died of hypothermia after fleeing from his car this past winter.
Democratic Rep. James A. O'Rourke III, 45, one of six deputy speakers, will keep his House seat but is suspended indefinitely from his leadership role because the legal case could interfere with his duties, said House Speaker Christopher Donovan.
O'Rourke gave a written statement to police in January about the case in which he said the woman appeared to be too intoxicated to drive. At the time, police said it was not a criminal investigation. But on Friday, The Hartford Courant quoted unidentified sources as saying that prosecutors were considering a criminal misdemeanor charge.
Prosecutors declined comment to The Associated Press.
O'Rourke's attorney, Jake Donovan, said he did not believe an arrest warrant had yet been issued, was unsure whether one would be issued, and that a decision would probably not come for another week.
"I'm secure in the knowledge that no crime has been committed," he said.
Carol Jean Sinisgalli, 41, of Rocky Hill, was found dead Jan. 22 by a cross-country skier, 10 to 12 feet from railroad tracks. Police said she had walked barefoot about half a mile before collapsing in the snow and freezing to death.
O'Rourke told police he was leaving a tavern in Cromwell late on Jan. 21 when Sinisgalli, who had argued with another patron, ran out to his car, pulled open a back door and jumped in. He said he knew the woman through a mutual friend and gave her a ride because he thought she would be a dangerous driver, though he did not know exactly where she lived.

Sinisgalli left behind her coat, shoes and purse. Her car was sitting in the bar parking lot.
During the ride, O'Rourke said Sinisgalli became belligerent, knocking down his rear view mirror, garage door opener and glasses before jumping out of the car.
He said he thought she was close to home and didn't know she was barefoot. Temperatures were in the single digits that night.
Her body was found about five hours later.
O'Rourke represents the central Connecticut communities of Cromwell, Portland and Middletown. Appointed by Christopher Donovan earlier this year to the leadership post, he has not yet presided over the House during the legislative session.
O'Rourke will lose his $6,446 deputy speaker stipend during the suspension, the House speaker's office said.
State Republican Party Chairman Christopher Healy called on O'Rourke to explain his actions publicly or resign from the General Assembly, where he has served since 1991.


Note: In the 2012 election, challenger Christie M. Carpino squeezed by the incumbent by 8% or nearly 1,000 votes.  Guess what district O'Rourke beat Carpino in?  Yep, rhymes with Siddletown.  

11 comments:

  1. One mistake Carpino beat O'Rouke in 2010 with no help from Middletown. I understand the civil suit is settled. He can move on with his life while Ms. Sinisgalli is still dead and justice was not served. Nice to be a politician and a democratic one at that in Connecticut.

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  2. I think maybe this story is old so I ask what is the need to bring it up now?t

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  3. Dear Anon:

    I feel sorry for you that you have no compassion for the young lady that passed away. Perhaps the INISIDER should do some snooping and find out why the RH Police Chief looked the other way with regard to evidence; it's people like you who hide behind your political pretense but let criminals like O'Rourke get away.

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  4. You MEan he didn't even get arressted for what he did? HOly begesus

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  5. I thought you guys were on the cutting edge of middletown politics and had a look from the INSIDE reporting OUT.

    This shows really poor charector posting this so long after the tradgedy has past.

    I feel sorry for the young lady who lost her life and the other lives destroyed by that loss.

    Your paper seems like a shameless teenage girls rant on FB.

    Senseless and not very Insider information.

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    Replies
    1. They are. I agree. This paper has an agenda. It has represented O'Rourke in a poor light since day one. Poor reporting

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  6. Dear ANON 12:19

    Did it not happen? Was justice done? Perhaps you are another clone out there who ignores 90% of the injustices due to political pressure in town/state. Perhaps you have a meaty city job with a certain party? What's your real interest in this?

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  7. This was posted on the anniversary of this woman's tragic death as a reminder that justice was not served. Her life, the injustice, and the lack of a tactful response should not be forgotten.

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  8. It was a shame that this woman, Sinisgalli, chose O'Rourkes car to jump into, and similarly that he was a nice enough guy to try to help her. I guess this is why nice guys finish last! It is my understanding that she died near her home but jumped out of the car without ever indicating what house was hers to the driver. I also understand that she was a very troubled woman with a history of drug use and alcoholism. She had recently been charged with multiple DUIs that had not yet played out in the court system. Such a shame when a person never gets the chance to help their addictions. This was a pattern of behavior for this poor woman. I understand that the toxicology report showed she was drunk and high on cocaine at the time so I am not so sure her outcome would have been much different had she driven, but I am sure she wasn't served cocaine at the tavern! And now look how this Christie Carpino has managed to exploit this poor woman's sensless death to her advantage, while O'Rourke never said anything to bring to light Sinisingalli's sad situations or mental conditions.

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  9. It was a shame that this woman, Sinisgalli, chose O'Rourkes car to jump into, and similarly that he was a nice enough guy to try to help her. I guess this is why nice guys finish last! It is my understanding that she died near her home but jumped out of the car without ever indicating what house was hers to the driver. I also understand that she was a very troubled woman with a history of drug use and alcoholism. She had recently been charged with multiple DUIs that had not yet played out in the court system. Such a shame when a person never gets the chance to help their addictions. This was a pattern of behavior for this poor woman. I understand that the toxicology report showed she was drunk and high on cocaine at the time so I am not so sure her outcome would have been much different had she driven, but I am sure she wasn't served cocaine at the tavern. I am sure that Carpino exploited this incident to her advantage to spite this poor woman's tragic circumstances, while O'Rourke never once pointed out the mental health of this woman or the circumstances of how her life spiralled and was out of control!It was a shame that this woman, Sinisgalli, chose O'Rourkes car to jump into, and similarly that he was a nice enough guy to try to help her. I guess this is why nice guys finish last! It is my understanding that she died near her home but jumped out of the car without ever indicating what house was hers to the driver. I also understand that she was a very troubled woman with a history of drug use and alcoholism. She had recently been charged with multiple DUIs that had not yet played out in the court system. Such a shame when a person never gets the chance to help their addictions. This was a pattern of behavior for this poor woman. I understand that the toxicology report showed she was drunk and high on cocaine at the time so I am not so sure her outcome would have been much different had she driven, but I am sure she wasn't served cocaine at the tavern.

    ReplyDelete

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