Holly MatkinNaugatuck, CT – A violent parolee accused of murdering and dismembering his 11-month-old daughter while out on bond on at least four other cases is now the subject of a massive, nationwide manhunt.
Federal, state, and local law enforcement officers are searching for 31-year-old Christopher Francisquini, who has been charged with murder with special circumstances and risk of injury to a child in the horrific death of his own daughter, 11-month-old Camilla Francisquini, the New Haven Register reported.
Based on the condition of the little girl’s body, Naugatuck Police Chief Colin McAllister said investigators were able to “clearly rule out this was an accident.”
“This was an intentional act,” Chief McCallister confirmed during a press conference on Monday.
The Connecticut office of the Chief Medical Examiner concluded Camilla died of neck compression and stab wounds, the New Haven Register reported.
Chief McAllister said Francisquini, who was on parole and house arrest, committed the “horrific and gruesome” murder at his home on Millville Avenue the morning of Nov. 18, according to the New York Post.
He then allegedly got into an argument with Camilla’s mother in Waterbury, at which point he cut off his electronic monitoring device, destroyed his cell phone, and fled the area, the New Haven Register reported.
Chief McAllister said investigators do not believe Camilla’s mother had any idea at the time of the argument that her daughter was dead.
WANTED FOR MURDER: CHRISTOPHER FRANCISQUINI
$10,000 CASH REWARD pic.twitter.com/qs7hrluzUw
— Naugatuck Police Dept. (@Naugy_PD) November 21, 2022
The woman went to the house on Millville Avenue house after Francisquini took off, but Chief McAllister would not confirm if she was the person who found Camilla’s body and called 911, the New Haven Register reported.
Officers responded to the residence at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 18 and found the baby’s dismembered body.
Investigators said the gray 2006 Chevrolet Impala Francisquini was believed to be driving was later found abandoned on Interstate 91, the New York Post reported.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the alleged killer’s arrest.
‼️‼️A manhunt continues for convicted felon Christopher Francisquini, accused of brutally killing his 11-month-old daughter Camilla Francisquini. He was out on parole and cut off his ankle monitor before going on the run. #Connecticut ‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/wED7oOcS0G
— DxTheMystery (@DxTheMystery) November 22, 2022
Investigators were still working to determine a motive on Monday, the New York Post reported.
“That’s a question we’re all struggling with,” Chief McAllister said. “Who would do this, especially to their own child?”
The chief said police “will not rest” until Francisquini is apprehended.
“We will be putting forward every effort to locate and apprehend this suspect and bring him to justice,” he said. “This is an unconscionable act. It is a heinous crime.”
According to court records, Francisquini was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2013 for assault, the New Haven Register reported.
He was granted supervised parole in 2020, but he wound up back behind bars that November for allegedly carjacking a victim at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in West Haven.
This is the car #Naugatuck Police say they believe 31-year-old Christopher Francisquini abandoned on I-91 at Exit 8 in #NewHaven. Police say he is a suspect in a one year old girl’s death and remain on the look out for him. @NBCConnecticut pic.twitter.com/b99XbEyeRE
— Jeremy Chen (@JeremyChentv) November 18, 2022
The day after his carjacking arrest, Francisquini allegedly assaulted multiple corrections officers while trying to escape from the jail facility, the New Haven Register reported.
The violent felon was released on special parole in June and was expected to remain on parole status until 2032, according to the New York Post.
He was also out on a total of $375,000 bond for four separate cases pending out of Bridgeport and Milford and was supposed to be on house arrest, the New Haven Register reported.
Francisquini failed to appear in court for a scheduled hearing in the pending matters on Monday, according to the paper.
Police said he should be considered armed and dangerous, the Hartford Courant reported.
“It is not lost on me that we are discussing another offender in our community who has an extensive criminal history of violent acts and violent crimes,” Chief McAllister said.
“We’re appealing again to the public to try to follow this, and if they see anything, if they know anything, if they think there’s even a remote chance that they may have seen Francisquini, to contact law enforcement immediately,” he added.
