SIMSBURY — A suspect in the death of an insurance executive nearly four years ago appeared in court as details about the events leading up to the homicide were released.
Simsbury Police said the arrested William Winters Leverett, 27, of Windsor Locks for the stabbing death of Melissa Millan on November 20, 2014. Millan, 54, was stabbed in the chest during an evening run on Iron Horse Boulevard on November 20, 2014. Police said a driver discovered Millan’s body on the pavement between Phelps Lane and Rotary Park. The area is a popular spot for biking and running.
Leverett was held on $2 million bond.
On Friday, police told FOX 61 a suspect walked into the police station on Wednesday surrounded by Open Gate Ministries church members, saying he wanted to confess.
Leverett was charged with Murder and he will appear in Enfield Superior Court on Monday.
Details from the warrant were revealed in court.
- Leverett came to police with Kerri Barrett, Michael Trazinski and Joseph Lemoine.
- He and Kerri had became friends a few months prior to the murder.
- Leverett said he didn’t want to explain to her that he was a sex offender and thought that killing someone would make it all go away.
- The first interview with police lasted 4.5 hours.
- He said he was at a sex offenders therapy group in Hartford prior to the murder.
- He went home and was lonely and wanted to talk to someone and meet new people.
- In the night of the murder, he told police he saw Melissa Millan and was attracted to her physical appearance.
- He said he just wanted to be next to her and meet her but said “something happened,” “acting beyond his control.”
- Leverett wrote two confession letters. They were located inside his home.
- He drove with police to scene of crime to recreate his actions.
- When he was interviewed a second time, it lasted 4.25 hours.
- Leverett told police on night of murder he parked by post office. Then drove toward iron horse. Saw Millan while at a stop sign. Said he was getting “mentally aroused watching her run.”
- Went to meet her. Internationally ran into her on the path. He thought “she’s way out of my league” “got angry” “anger escalated rapidly” took out knife he brought in his vehicle to “scare her” and plunged it into her chest.
- She pushed him away with both hands and the knife came out and she fell back. He ran back to car as she said “oh my god, oh my god, oh my god” and fell silent.
- He didn’t know she died until he saw the news the next day.
- He threw knife out the window then went back to get it after a few days and brought it to work and threw in trash compactor.
- He said he dropped off his bloody boots in a goodwill drop box in Granby
- A bloody glove thrown into barn rafter and fell behind beam. Was there for years. Police searched and found it with help from Leverett.
- The glove sent to state police forensic lab and yelled dna results that implicated Leverett in Millan Murder.
Leverett is a registered sex offender in Connecticut for assaulting a child in Colorado in 2011. Leverett was employed at The Fresh Market in Avon. He was an assistant front end manager.
The store issued a statement following Leverett’s arrest:
“This is a tragic incident, and The Fresh Market would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family of the victim. We are cooperating fully with authorities on this investigation, but at this time cannot provide further public comment as this is an active investigation.
Police in Simsbury said had assistance from the FBI, the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, the Hartford Police Department, the Avon Police Department, the Connecticut State Police, the Cold Case Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, the Office of the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Hartford, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Forensic Science Laboratory and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
