David Messenger worth 2 Million Dollars benefits from his crime.

There seems to be more comments added to the Insider story that appeared in May of 2013.. 



Things you need to know about CVH patient David Messenger:

David Messenger (photo credit Hartford Courant)

1) In 1998 Messenger beat his pregnant wife Heather to death in their Chaplin home as their 5 year old son Dane watched. Heather was pregnant with twins and according to police, the argument was over the fact that "Messenger was upset because he only wanted one baby, " according to testimony at his trial.

2) He currently lives at Connecticut Valley State Hospital

3) Because he was found not guilty of his wife's murder, under probate law David Messenger, 60, was allowed to remain as the beneficiary of Heather's estate. She had specified him as beneficiary in the will she signed five years before her death, probate records show.

4) When Travelers Property and Casualty, which held the homeowner's insurance on the couple's Chaplin home, agreed to settle the wrongful death lawsuit for $600,000, the money became part of Heather Messenger's estate. After legal fees, $424,627 remained, with David Messenger as the beneficiary. In simple terms: Messenger made money by killing his wife.

5) Messenger was acquitted of the crime in 2001 but committed to Connecticut Valley State Hospital for 20 years.

6) David Messenger is worth approximately $2,000,000

7) According to The Providence Journal: " Doctors who have been treating David Messenger testified it would be appropriate to move him from the Connecticut Valley Hospital into a Hartford-based community treatment program, where he would be allowed to spend much of his time unsupervised and allowed to travel freely around three Connecticut counties.

Dr. Kevin Trueblood, a forensic psychiatrist from Yale University who has treated Messenger since 2007, testified that Messenger has been stable for several years and has no active psychiatric issues that would require him to continue living at the Middletown hospital.

"He's here because the board has required that he be here, and we've hit a wall with transitioning him to the community," he testified.

8) In 2012, Messenger was allowed to travel off site for various treatments. But it did deny his application for the supervised release program.

9) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22XH7TnIJ9Q - David Messenger Hearing (9/12/2008)

10) According to The Middletown Press (May 3, 2 013) on the subject of Messenger's release: "The application in question would clear the way for Messenger’s gradual transition from hospitalization and full-time occupancy at CVH to a supervised residential living situation in Hartford, during which he would have a curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., check in daily with CVH by phone and make weekly in-person appointments at the hospital. He would be allowed to travel but would be restricted to Hartford, Middlesex and New Haven County and could take public transportation or be driven, but not drive himself."

11) . Pastor John C. Hall (Also chair of the Jonas Center) speaks of visiting Messenger here in a published sermon, but also concludes it is not up to the Church to decide Messenger's release: http://www.firstchurchucc.org/sermons/s030216.html

Hall states in his sermon regarding Messenger: ""He appears (to me at least) fully recovered. He’s on no medication. And even though these memories and experiences are still quite painful he is willing to speak quite openly about them."

Question: Would Pastor John C. Hall be willing to take David Messenger home to live for a few weeks to test out his hypothesis on Messenger's mental state? Here are Hall's reflections on his visits with Messenger: http://www.firstchurchucc.org/sermons/s030216.html

Question: Why did the so-called village people who claim to be so into Middletown not gather together and fight city  hall on this issue. Answer: There is no money involved in this issue. It's easier to fight the Landino land deal and make yourselfs look like the good guys, when in reality the Blue Housers and Non-Profits are making crazy money.. Remember, it's all about the Benjamins.

12) It was Hall's goal to let Messenger worship at the church while under the supervision of parisheners. Gee, I'm sure Messenger is match for two church goers in their 80's.

Letter to the Editor: Upcoming South Fire Budget Vote, CVH Burden Services Still Burden Taxpayers

Editor's note: All letters to the Insider are printed as a courtesy to readers, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Insider.  We want to hear from you! Please submit thank you!

Editor's Note Update: As of today we have been informed by Dan Penney that he also submitted this letter to the Mess. The Mess ran it as a print editorial on Saturday, however, unlike the pro-budget editorials, have failed to also publish it on their online page. Coincidence?

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To the editor: April 23,2013

The South Fire District Board of Fire Commissioners has scheduled voting on the 2013-2014 proposed budget for Tuesday, April 30,2013 from 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the South District Firehouse.

The current 2012-13 budget includes new spending of $650,000,an increase of some  16 %. The proposed budget,while appearing to be level,certainly suggest that the south district taxpayers were unnecessarily overtaxed with approval of the 2012-2013 budget.  

Not surprisingly and only after the south fire district fiscal administrator presented a comprehensive sound 2013-2014 budget did the commissioners act to effect changes that denied taxpayers possible savings.The final proposed budget contains expenses that could have easily been eliminated and/or reduced so as to provide much needed tax relief for the south district taxpayers,including homeowners and local businesses. 

Most alarming,the proposed budget includes an unprecedented pay increase of 50% for Commissioners ( 7708 Directors’ Compensation) who acted to pay themselves regardless of being elected to serve in such public service. District financial records also confirm that such payments are made even when meetings are missed thus demonstrating a sense of entitlement never before witnessed. In light of limited fiscal resources and in the true best interest of our firefighters and taxpayers this is clearly a budget line item that could have been eliminated. 

Overtime is also increasing ( 7603 Replacements/Call Backs) from $134,673 to $146,000. Most concerning, the current overtime spending is at $232,398 or $97,725 over budget as of March 31,2013. Such ongoing activity certainly brings into question the lack of management controls as well as effective stewardship. 

Another missed opportunity for significant savings is the most recent decision of the Board of Fire Commissioners to proceed with the recruitment of a Fire Chief.The public had called for this management position to be eliminated and such services retained via a simple memorandum of understanding with the City, at significant cost savings for both the City and South District taxpayers.

Additionally, south fire district support continues for CVH, a State facility where the burden of fire services expenses was shifted on the south district taxpayers when CVH initiated actions to reduce its longstanding fire services. 

Until such practices have been corrected and the resulting tax breaks extended to the south fire district taxpayers, I recommend a NO vote next Tuesday on the proposed 4.6 million 2013/ 2014 budget. 

Dan Penney

Middletown,CT 06457 

Letter to the Editor: Greatsinger will make Conservative decisions as South Fire Commissioner

Letters to the Editor are published as a courtesy, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Middletown Insider staff.

 

To the editor: February 1, 2013

The South Fire District Board Of Fire Commissioners has scheduled the Annual Meeting  for Monday,February 4, 2013,at 8:00 p.m. at the Firehouse. This meeting will elect one Commissioner. Public voting for this election will take place between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Monday ,February 4, 2013 via voting machine at the Firehouse. 

As per a recent classified section legal notice,candidates are David P. Gallitto and Todd Greatsinger. The South Fire District budget for the current fiscal year 2012 - 2013 is $4,606,932 with a mill rate of 3.648,an all time high. Included is increased spending of some 16% or $600,000 greater as compared to the previous fiscal year. 

This letter is to endorse the candidacy of Todd Greatsinger a concerned taxpayer as well as a proven accomplished professional business leader, who will certainly demonstrate conservative control and balance is addressing such critical issues as the upcoming budget,questionable CVH support and ongoing collective bargaining negotiations at South Fire District. Todd will always offer a balance relative to the best interest of taxpayers as well as the excellent services being provided by our Firefighters . 

Most importantly, it is critical that the public make every effort to get out and vote on Monday. Your vote is needed and can effect positive change,such as improved services at less cost.

Dan Penney

Chamberlain Hill Road

Middletown,CT 06457

Hearing for Murderer David Messenger's release from CVH Friday

The Middletown Press is reporting that there will be a public hearing held for David Messenger who is being "treated" at CVH on Friday June 1, 2012. http://www.middletownpress.com/articles/2012/05/31/news/doc4fc6b216e8b80096403697.txt?viewmode=fullstory

This hearing is a continuation of a hearing that was held in November, where the  board in control of Messenger's treatment found him mentally fit to leave the Connecticut Valley Hospital grounds with "supervision" by staff  to attend outpatient treatment in Hartford and Middletown. Upon treatment completion would eventually be allowed to stay at a resident of an outpatient facility.

Messenger "allegedly" beat to death his pregnant wife Heather Messenger with a fire poker and a piece of wood back in 1998 while his five year old child was present at the scene.
Messenger was acquitted of first-degree manslaughter by reason of mental illness committed to Connecticut Valley Hospital in 2001. His "treatment" is said to be 20 years, and the actual charge is manslaughter.

As you recall, Messenger suited the City of Middletown and then Mayor Giulaino for infringement on his First Amendment rights when he petitioned for release to attend Church Services at First Congregational Church in Middletown. Pastor John C. Hall (Also chair of the Jonas Center) speaks of visiting Messenger here in a published sermon, but also concludes it is not up to the Church to decide Messenger's release: http://www.firstchurchucc.org/sermons/s030216.html
Hall  states in his sermon regarding Messenger: ""He appears (to me at least) fully recovered.  He’s on no medication.  And even though these memories and experiences are still quite painful he is willing to speak quite openly about them."

 The suit was dismissed. Giuliano was quoted by the local press as saying if Messenger were to be released by the state Psychiatric Safety Review Board, Giuliano would see that a police officer was "stapled to his butt at all times." Mayor Drew failed to attend the hearing last November, citing something about no one telling him to go or something, but issued a letter afterwards stating he did not support Messenger's release. Later Drew did damage control by writing a letter with some strong big boy words protesting another scheduled release of  patient Kenneth Ruggles who also had a violent past in attempts to take the attention off the fact he only acted after the fact in the case of Messenger. Middletown City Attorney Tim Lynch will be at the hearing as well as the victim's family. Messenger is entitled to a hearing for release every two years by law. Is it just us, or does it seem like we always hear about violent mentally insane murders going into CVH but we as citizens never hear when they come out? Is there just an infinite supply of beds there? If our safety is in jeopardy, as citizens, we have a right to know.