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Chief state's attorney John Bailey says Sostre will be faced with numerous charges, including capitol felony murder, a death penalty offense, kidnapping, and weapons charges. He was arraigned Wednesday afternoon and was being held on $5 million bond.
Later in the evening, East Hartford police chief John Shay announced the arrest of two women he says were involved in the murder. 29 year old Nency Forty is facing capitol felony murder, kidnapping, assault and other charges. 23 year old Erica Vilchel is charged with felony murder, kidnapping, assault and other charges as well. Both will be arraigned Thursday. They are being held on $3 million bond.
Sostre, surrounded by several officers, was escorted out of Hartford police headquarters and driven across the river to the East Hartford police station just before 1:00. Police brought him in wearing officer Aselton's handcuffs, and in the backseat of Officer Aselton's squad car.
It was an emotional scene outside the East Hartford police headquarters when the suspect was brought in. Officers, with black on their badges and some with flowers, applauded as the suspect was led into the station. Some officers were moved to tears, wiping their eyes, glad that an arrest has been made.
Yesterday, East Hartford Police said robbery is a likely motive for the brutal beating of a man which ultimately led to the murder of Aselton, who was killed while responding to a noise complaint at an apartment building on Main Street. Gregorio Velez was found severely beaten inside his apartment that night. East Hartford police chief James Shay says they found a "sizeable sum of cash" in Velez's apartment. Chief Shay said the sum was "more than you would have in your house." He would not comment on whether drugs were involved, or if Velez knew the killers.
The funeral will be Thursday morning at 10:00 at St. Margaret Mary Church in South Windsor. Aselton will be buried with full military honors.
©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT |
Suspect In Custody in Murder of Officer - Wake Tonight
(East Hartford-WTNH) _ Police have arrested a 23 year old Hartford man along with two women for the murder of East Hartford police officer Brian Aselton. Noel "Alex" Sostre was taken into custody this morning. Sostre is an unemployed, homeless man from Puerto Rico. He has a criminal history which includes assault. Police say he has made a written confession to the murder.
Chief Shay says officers also recovered the gun believed used in the murder, but he would not provide details.
Police picked up Sostre in Hartford this morning, after information they developed from a routine traffic stop made by Hartford police officer Andrew Weaver.
He pulled over a car for speeding. Information from that stop led to Sostre's arrest. At an afternoon news conference, Governor Rowland praised Officer Weaver for his actions which led to the arrest.
This comes as friends, family and fellow officers will gather in South Windsor tonight to pay respects to Aselton, who was killed in the line of duty Saturday night. A wake will be held from 5:00 to 9:00 pm at Samsel and Carmon Funeral Home in South Windsor.