'The most horrific homicide.' Stamford police close case of decomposing body found after armed standoff
Carmine Boccuzzi, 79, was found on the second floor of 263 Oaklawn Ave., where he’d rented a room for years. Boccuzzi hadn't just been beaten to death, according to police He'd been handcuffed and duct-taped, then tortured.
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Stamford police have finished their investigation into the violent killing of a 79-year-old local man, whose decomposing body was discovered inside a home on Oaklawn Avenue after the homeowner engaged police in an hours-long standoff and shootout in December.
“This was the most horrific homicide that I've ever witnessed in my career in the last 29 years,” Sgt. Sean Boeger told News 12 in an exclusive interview.
Carmine Boccuzzi was found on the second floor of 263 Oaklawn Ave., where he’d rented a room for years. Boccuzzi hadn't just been beaten to death, according to Boeger. He'd been handcuffed and duct-taped, then tortured.
“Both of his shoulders were fractured. He had numerous lacerations to the top of the head from being struck. One of the knees I think was dislocated, and then I believe every rib in his body was was broken,” Boeger said. “It appeared he had been deceased within the home for several days.”
The gruesome discovery came after an hours-long standoff and shootout with the homeowner on Dec. 2, an incident that began when a marshal arrived to evict 63-year-old Jed Parkington and his wife. The couple had lost their house to foreclosure after years of battling in court.
“Every avenue of delaying and arguing against the eviction finally was exhausted, and the court granted the eviction notice,” Boeger said.
The ensuing armed confrontation was planned by Parkington, and the reason Boccuzzi died, according to Boeger.
“The motivation for the homicide, we believe, was because Boccuzzi wouldn't leave the house, and Mr. Parkington couldn't prep the house the way he wanted to with Mr. Boccuzzi being there as a witness, so he killed him,” Boeger told News 12, adding that other tenants who’d been renting rooms had left.
Parkington’s prep included bringing in concrete blocks to fortify the house and creating explosive devices like pipe bombs and Molotov cocktails. To do that, Parkington sent his wife to live with her daughter before Thanksgiving, according to Boeger.
“Mrs. Parkington didn't have any knowledge of what was going on,” Boeger said. “Boccuzzi was killed once she was already out of the house.”
Carmen Parkington also suffers from medical and cognitive issues. Her attorney, Alex Martinez, previously told News 12 she was hospitalized after the standoff, and family was looking to have her placed in a supervisory setting since she can’t care for herself alone. Martinez also said that a relative had filed an application in probate court to be her conservator.
According to Boeger, Carmen Parkington showed up at the house the morning of the eviction right before the marshal arrived.
“It wasn't like she even had opportunity to go through the house,” Boeger explained. “When the marshal got there, he shoved his wife out the front door and said, ‘Make sure she's safe. Things are going to get ugly.’”
Parkington was wearing military garb with Nazi insignia on the collar and a utility belt with possible explosives, per police. They later found a Nazi flag and propaganda throughout the home.
“Upon our arrival Mr. Parkington had barricaded himself within the house, and he was not coming out. He had pushed a bunch of furniture—literally grabbed a bunch of furniture that was on the second floor, threw it down the stairs, down in front of the front door of the house to block any attempt to open the door,” Boeger said.
Body camera footage shows police vehicles came under a barrage of gunfire when they approached the front door. Bullets dented the exterior and repeatedly pierced the windshield. Throughout the afternoon, officers and Parkington exchanged shots multiple times, until Parkington turned the gun on himself.
“The marshal said she was told by her supervisors this was the most extreme eviction they had ever seen in the history of the state,” Boeger said.
The house at 263 Oaklawn Ave. recently sold for $485,000. It's unknown what the new owner's plans are for the property.
PRIOR REPORTING:
Blight, debris cleaned up at Stamford standoff home; safety questions remain for neighbor
Bodycam footage shows shots fired during deadly Stamford standoff
Standoff suspect's wife assisting Stamford PD to 'best of her cognitive ability,' attorney says
Nazi flag, propaganda found inside Stamford home at center of standoff and shootout with police
