ANSONIA, Conn. — In the Naugatuck Valley, The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services can be reached by phone at 203-736-9944, 203-789-8104 or 1-888-774-2900 or through their website. Statewide domestic violence assistance can be found on their website or call/text (888)774-2900.
A 22-year-old man was arrested in connection with a 20-year-old woman's homicide case.
Police said at a press conference on Wednesday evening, they have arrested Andre LeFrancois for the homicide of Rosalie Acquefreda.
Acquefreda, of Derby, was found dead on the road in Ansonia Sunday afternoon.
Police said Derby Police initially received a call on Sunday for a report of a person that was struck by a car and then drove away. However, when officers arrived on the scene, they found Acquefreda's injuries did not appear to have been from an accident but rather multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
They said Acquefreda was found in the back of a resident's yard on North Coe Lane when officers responded to the call. As of September 1, it is unclear how or why she ended up there.
Police say the arrest warrant has been sealed so further information to how officials linked LeFrancois to this incident is unclear.
Joseph Acquefreda, the father of the Rosalie, said he knew the suspect and was in a "toxic" relationship.
Acquefreda said, “My daughter had a toxic relationship with this gentleman ever since she was 14. She was in fear of this man and it’s sad to say that because that was the child’s father and nobody should fear their kid's father.”
“This could’ve been avoided... I tried my hardest I was there all the time she was so scared of this man and it just didn’t work out,” said Christian Federici who says he was the boyfriend of Rosalie. He was at the police public statement and urge anyone going through a similar situation to speak up so this won’t happen to anyone else.
LeFrancois is being charged with murder and risk of injury to a child. He is being held on a $750,000 bond and is scheduled to be in court Thursday.
