An 18-year-old Cottage Grove man who was staying with his grandparents in Connecticut said he stabbed them to death and tried to burn down their home, state police said.
Marcus Fisher was taken into custody early Monday following the double homicide in Montville, a town of about 20,000 in far southeastern Connecticut. Fisher later confessed to the killings, telling authorities that he stabbed his grandparents Sunday night after arguing with his grandfather, according to a police report.
Fisher was charged Tuesday in Norwich Superior Court with two counts of murder, second-degree arson and murder with special circumstances, police said. A judge set bail at $1 million.
Several East Coast media outlets reported that Fisher had been visiting his grandparents, identified as John and Gertrude Piscezek, ages 76 and 77.
Josue Dorelus, a spokesman for the Connecticut state police, said Tuesday he could not confirm the victims’ identities until autopsies were complete, which were scheduled for later in the day.
A relative of the slain couple posted on Facebook Monday that Fisher had been staying with the couple and had recently attended another family member’s funeral with them.
The Bulletin, a newspaper in Norwich, reported Tuesday that Fisher had just returned to Montville after visiting family in Minnesota.
For a few months, Fisher had worked the drive-through at a McDonald’s in Montville, but was fired two weeks ago, according to the newspaper report.
Just before 5 a.m. Monday, Fisher called 911 to report that his grandparents were dead in their home. He allegedly told the dispatcher he was there for the “event,” the police report read.
When officers arrived at the home, Fisher was outside and initially denied harming his grandparents. After an officer asked Fisher again if he hurt them, Fisher, who had cuts on his hands and blood on them, stated, “I did,” the report read.
The couple was found dead on the kitchen floor with multiple lacerations.
According to the police report, Fisher told investigators he got into an argument with his grandfather after dinner, grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed him in the chest. When his grandmother entered the kitchen, Fisher said, he stabbed her, too.
Fisher said he turned on the gas stove and tried to set on fire a gas line that leads to the house by using branches and logs.
The case is being transferred to New London Superior Court, where Fisher has a Feb. 4 hearing.
Kristi Belcamino contributed to this report.