Boy, 12, who 'stabbed twin sister to death' is released from hospital to juvenile detention

A 12-year-old Connecticut boy accused of stabbing his twin sister to death has been released from a hospital and transported to a juvenile detention center as state officials grapple with what to do with him. 

The boy, whose name has not been released because he is a minor, allegedly stabbed his sister Brigid Curtin twice in the neck and torso before stabbing and critically wounding their mother JaneMarie Murphy at the family's home in a wealthy West Hartford neighborhood on December 17.   

After the attacks, the suspect, who sustained minor injuries, was taken to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, where he was arraigned last week.

He faces charges of murder with special circumstances and first-degree assault in Brigid's death as well as assault for stabbing Murphy. Police have not revealed a motive in the stabbings.

The boy was released from the hospital this week and is currently being held at the Juvenile Detention Center in Hartford, sources confirmed to the Hartford Courant on Thursday.  He is in the custody of Connecticut Judicial Marshals.

The 12-year-old boy accused of the stabbing was reportedly released from a hospital and transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Hartford (above) earlier this week

A 12-year-old boy accused of stabbing his twin sister to death at their home in West Hartford, Connecticut, on December 17 was reportedly released from a hospital and transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Hartford (above) earlier this week

The boy's mother JaneMarie Murphy (above) called 911 on the afternoon of December 17 and said her son had stabbed her and Brigid Murphy, a 56-year-old government lobbyist, is recovering from the attack at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center

The boy's mother JaneMarie Murphy (left and right) called 911 on the afternoon of December 17 and said her son had stabbed her and her daughter, Brigid Curtin. Murphy, a 56-year-old government lobbyist, is recovering from the attack at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center

The grieving community held a prayer vigil for Brigid four days after the attack last week at St Patrick and St Anthony Church. Loved ones are pictured arriving at the service

The grieving community held a prayer vigil for Brigid four days after the attacks last week at St Patricks and St Anthony R C Church. Loved ones are pictured arriving at the service

Police vehicles are seen parked outside the family home on Stoner Drive in the upscale Connecticut neighborhood of West Hartford as investigators collect crime scene evidence 

Police vehicles are seen parked outside the family home on Stoner Drive in the upscale Connecticut neighborhood of West Hartford as investigators collect crime scene evidence 

Judicial officials and attorneys have been struggling to determine where the boy - one of the youngest murder defendants in Connecticut history - should be placed as the juvenile detention center is not considered to be a long-term solution, the Courant reports.   

The case will be tried in juvenile court and kept sealed because of his age.   

According to Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Kevin Lawlor, the maximum punishment for a person 14 or younger would be 30 months of probation supervision with or without residential placement, minus any time spent in pretrial detention. 

After the boy serves his juvenile sentence, the state could ask a judge to commit him to the state's children's psychiatric center if he is considered a danger to himself or to others. Should that happen, he could be held in the psychiatric facility until he is 20 years old.   

Speaking about this particular case, a state juvenile official told the Courant: 'Coming up with an appropriate response to a young child charged with a serious crime such as murder presents a difficult challenge for the court because it is uncommon and because the court has to determine the needs of the child and at the same time balance the need to protect public safety.'   

Police were called to the home on Stoner Drive on December 17 and found both victims and the suspect at the scene. Brigid and Murphy were rushed to the hospital where the young girl died of her injuries

Police were called to the home on Stoner Drive on December 17 and found both victims and the suspect at the scene. Brigid and Murphy were rushed to the hospital where the young girl died of her injuries

The maximum punishment for juvenile offenders under the age of 14 was knocked down to 30 months from a previous limit of 48 months when a series of new laws went into effect on July 1 of this year. 

Those laws have limited the options state courts have available when determining the best course of action with the boy's case.   

Prior to July 1, the court would have had the option to commit the boy to the Department of Children and Families for placement in a residential treatment facility, including the Connecticut Juvenile Training School (CJTS) for boys.

However, that school was closed under the new laws and the state now does not have a secure facility designated for the treatment of serious juvenile offenders.

Sources familiar with the juvenile system told the Courant that the state is looking into alternative plans for serious juvenile offenders.

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The judicial branch does have treatment programs and services for delinquents who require secure housing within the two state-operated juvenile detention centers, but the capacity of those programs is limited at a total of 24 and there is a substantial waiting list. 

Judicial department spokeswoman Melissa Farley told the Courant this week: 'The judicial branch continues to work toward contracting for smaller contracted secure facilities in the community, which will reduce reliance on the detention centers.

'In addition, the judicial branch has awarded contracts for two staff-secure facilities with a total capacity of 20 beds, which began taking clients at the beginning of the month.'

Once the West Hartford suspect's juvenile sentence is completed, the state could ask a judge to commit him if he is still a danger either to himself or to others. Under that scenario, he could be placed in a psychiatric facility until he is 20, sources said. 

Juvenile defenders who are diagnosed with mental health issues can be sent for evaluation and treatment at a state psychiatric center for children - the Solnit South campus in Middletown. 

The Courant reports six residents attempted suicide at the state-run children's psychiatric center between November 2017 and March 2018.   

Authorities spent two days collecting evidence from the Murphy-Curtin's two-story home 

Authorities spent two days collecting evidence from the Murphy-Curtin's two-story home 

Blood stains could reportedly be seen in the driveway and inside the garage at the home

Blood stains could reportedly be seen in the driveway and inside the garage at the home

Both state officials and the boy’s attorney, Trent LaLima of the Hubert J Santos Law Firm, have declined to comment on the suspect's current location. 

His parents, mother JaneMarie Murphy and father Timothy Curtin, are being represented by Hartford attorney John Droney, who also declined to comment Thursday.

It's been nearly two weeks since Murphy called 911 and told the dispatcher that she and her daughter were stabbed by her son shortly after the seventh-graders returned home from Sedgewick Middle School on the afternoon of December 17. 

Police arrived on the scene at around 3.30pm and both victims were rushed to the hospital, where Brigid succumbed to her injuries. 

Murphy, a 56-year-old government lobbyist, is still recovering from stab multiple wounds at St Francis Hospital and Medical Center.

Authorities have released very little information regarding the incident and denied media requests for the 911 tape. 

Blood stains were seen in the driveway and the garage as police spent two days gathering evidence from the two-story home on Stoner Drive that had been decorated for Christmas.  

Flowers and white ribbons have been placed near the house in the upscale West Hartford community that is still reeling from the 'unspeakable tragedy'. 

A vigil for Brigid was held last week at St Patrick-St Anthony's church, where the young girl used to attend services with her family.  

A vigil for Brigid was held at St Patrick-St Anthony's church (above) four days after her death

A vigil for Brigid was held at St Patrick-St Anthony's church (above) four days after her death

Grieving friends and family are seen embracing outside the church Brigid used to attend

Grieving friends and family are seen embracing outside the church Brigid used to attend

Fr Tom Gallagher sent an email informing parishioners that a prayer and healing service would be held for the Murphy-Curtin family. 

The priest hailed the Murphy-Curtins as a 'wonderful family' and said Brigid and her brother were baptized at the church, had their first communion there, and were involved in the parish's religious programs. 

Gallagher remembered Brigid as a 'kind, delightful young girl' to the Hartford Courant.

Students at Sedgwick Middle School honored Brigid's memory last week by wearing shirts in her favorite color, blue, and drawing blue hearts on their hands and arms. 

'This is truly an unspeakable tragedy,' family friend Chuck Coursey said at a news conference on December 18.

West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor released the following statement on behalf of the Murphy-Curtin family to Pix11

'Our family, friends, and community are all suffering tonight. We are all enduring a very painful and unimaginable loss. Our family will never be the same. Our daughter was a beautiful child and we will remember forever her smile…laughter…and remember her for the way she loved and lived. We thank you all for your condolences and prayers,' the statement said. 

'Please understand that this loss is not contained to our family. Our children attended West Hartford schools and have so many friends that are hurting tonight as well. West Hartford is a strong community,' it added. 

According to Murphy's biography on her employer's website, the mother is an 'expert in state and municipal government and public interest negotiations'. 

She formerly worked as a legislative assistant to the State Senate Majority Office and Senior Legislative Aide to the Senate President Pro Tempore of the Connecticut General Assembly. 

Flowers and white ribbons have been laid at the entrance to Stoner Drive in West Hartford 

Flowers and white ribbons have been laid at the entrance to Stoner Drive in West Hartford 

A note placed at the entrance to the grieving neighborhood reads: 'We love you Brigid'

A note placed at the entrance to the grieving neighborhood reads: 'We love you Brigid'

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