CT man convicted of murder in death of 93-year-old Stamford woman killed with ‘a blunt force object’ – Hartford Courant

A Connecticut man was found guilty of murder and other counts Friday in the 2019 home invasion slaying of a Stamford woman.

Stamford/Norwalk State’s Attorney Paul J. Ferencek said a jury at Superior Court in Stamford found Robert C. Simmons guilty of the Sept. 25, 2019 home invasion murder of Isabella Mehner, 93, in her Stamford home. Simmons also was convicted of felony murder, home invasion and first-degree burglary.

The office of the state’s attorney said, citing what occurred during the trial, that the Mehner’s daughter testified that she found her mother at the bottom of the basement stairs on the evening of the day she died. The state medical examiner ruled the death a homicide.

The evidence at the trial showed “the defendant entered the home around 5:39 p.m., and exited approximately 8 minutes later,” the state’s attorney statement said. “Video evidence from the area led police to a description of the suspect, who police observed in downtown Stamford in the same clothing shown on the video footage less than 48 hours after the murder.”

The man was later identified as Simmons, and the investigation determined he had previously been to Mehner’s home to perform drain work, the state’s attorney said. Mehner’s injuries, “largely to her head, were extensive, and found to be caused by a blunt force object.”

Police said at the time Simmons was arrested that they zeroed in on Simmons after a combination of “old-fashioned police work” and “21st century investigative techniques.” Sgt. Christopher DiCarlo and officers Michael Longo, Angel Gonzalez and Christopher Friel were the lead investigators.

Simmons is scheduled to be sentenced on April 25.