Crime & Safety
Teen Suspect In Fatal Stabbing Charged with Murder
A 16-year-old male is in police custody following the death of junior Maren Sanchez. And investigators are looking into reports the suspect may have killed the Milford teen after she rejected his offer to go with him to the prom Friday night.
Update at 7:40 p.m.
Musical artist Phillip Phillips has shared his condolences via Twitter regarding the death of Jonathan Law High School junior Maren Sanchez.
A video of Sanchez performing Phillip's hit single "Home" has surfaced since the Milford teen's murder early Friday morning. (the video is shared above)
Find out what's happening in Milfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In his post, Phillips says: "I am so sad to hear of the tragic death of Maren Sanchez. My thoughts and prayers are with her family."
Update at 6:50 p.m.
Find out what's happening in Milfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The 16-year-old suspect who allegedly stabbed fellow Jonathan Law High School junior Maren Sanchez to death Friday morning — after she reportedly declined his offer to attend the prom — has been charged with murder, Milford Police said.
According to Lt. Jeffrey Nielsen, at 7:14 a.m., Maren Sanchez, 16, was assaulted by the male student in a hallway adjacent to a stairwell inside the school.
"A school nurse, assisted by other school staff members attempted to perform life saving measures on the student," Nielsen stated in a press release.
He said emergency medical service members who arrived on scene continued to perform life saving measures. Sanchez was then transported to Bridgeport Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 7:43 a.m.
Sanchez suffered multiple lacerations to her neck, chest and facial areas during the incident, Nielsen said.
The suspect was then taken into custody by the School Resource Officer of Jonathan Law High School.
"A school staff member who witnessed a portion of the assault, along with other school staff members were able to remove the suspect student from the immediate scene," Nielsen stated.
Investigators have recovered a knife at the crime scene, and police have also executed a search warrant at the suspect’s residence.
The teenager — who is in police custody at a local medical facility — has been charged with murder as a juvenile offender.
He is expected to be arraigned and formally charged in juvenile court in New Haven on Monday, April 28.
"The Milford Superior Court will follow up with a determination if the case will be handled as a juvenile or adult proceeding," Nielsen stated.
He added that police are still on scene at the school and will be continuing to investigate this incident.
The state's Chief Medical Examiner’s Office will be conducting their investigation into the cause and manner of death.
Milford Police and Milford Board of Education Officials worked collaboratively to send the students home to allow investigators to process the scene and conduct the investigation, Nielsen said.
The Milford Board of Education will be providing counseling services for students, families and others affected by this tragic event.
Update at 4:10 p.m.U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro has issued a public statement in the wake of this morning's fatal stabbing at Jonathan Law High School:
“I was saddened to learn of this morning’s tragic events at Jonathan Law High School and the death of Maren Sanchez. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends as they deal with this terrible heartbreak. Mayor Blake has announced counseling services will be available throughout the weekend; I urge any community member who needs these resources to take advantage of them.”
Update at 3:50 p.m.Members of the student administration at Joseph A. Foran High School shared a special video message of care and encouragement for their fellow students at Jonathan Law, following the tragic death of Maren Sanchez on Friday.
Update at 3:20 p.m.
Watch a video of Maren Sanchez performing the hit single "Home" by Phillip Phillips above.
Update at 1:25 p.m.
Milford Mayor Ben Blake said Jonathan Law High School will be open and counseling services will be available throughout the weekend.
"Our hearts go out to the family of Maren Sanchez, the sixteen year old junior at Jonathan Law High School who passed away this morning, and to those also affected by this tragedy."
Update at 12:50 p.m.
Jonathan Law High School principal Fran Thompson sent the following email to students, according to Tom Cleary at the NHR:
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that a beloved member of our student body, Maren Sanchez, has passed away. Maren, a junior, was everything right with Jonathan Law. An honor student, active member of our school community and incredible young woman, her time with us was much too short but her spirit will be with us forever. I ask you to please join me in praying for Maren, her friends, her family and all of our school community as we cope with this horrific event.
Tonight’s junior prom and post prom have been postponed until further notice.
Our school will be open and counseling services will be available all weekend beginning this morning at 11:30 AM through 8 PM tonight. As well, we will have counselors and staff on hand throughout the entire weekend. Anyone – students, staff, alumni and community members are welcome to join us for support. The new gym will be open and I ask everyone who joins us to enter through the back lot into the new gym entrance.
I will continue to provide messengers this weekend regarding our services.
Update at 11:55 a.m.
Milford officials have identified the 16-year-old female student who has been fatally stabbed as Maren Sanchez, according to a New Haven Register report.
A 16-year-old male student is in police custody, police said.
Update at 11:40 a.m.Milford Police report that female student stabbed during an altercation early Friday morning at Jonathan Law High School has died, according to a New Haven Register alert.
Update at 9:30 a.m.
The following is a press release from the Milford Police Department.
The Milford Police Department is currently investigating an incident that occurred at Jonathan Law High School.
On April 25, 2014 at 7:14 am, the School Resource Officer at Jonathan Law High School was alerted to an isolated altercation that occurred between two students inside the school building.
Several members of the Milford Police Department are on scene and the school is safe at this time.
Police officials are working with Milford Board of Education Officials regarding the release of students from the school for the day.
Police will be continuing to investigate this incident.
Original PostA Jonathan Law student has been taken to the hospital after a stabbing occured during an altercation at the Milford high school Friday morning, according to a Milford Now report.
The incident between two students occurred shortly after 7 a.m.
Milford Now reports one student was taken to the hospital for their injuries and the other student was arrested by police.
Officials reported that students were safe in their classrooms at the time of the incident. Classes at the high school have been dismissed for the day.
Patch will have updates as more information about the incident becomes available.
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