Man accused of beating 12-year-old son to death with baseball bat

[ad_1] A Connecticut man is charged with homicide with particular circumstances after allegedly beating his 12-year-old son to loss of life with a baseball bat, officers mentioned.

Anthony Andrew Esposito Jr., 52, can also be charged with felony try to commit homicide after allegedly attempting to kill his 16-year-old daughter, officers mentioned.

The incident occurred Thursday at a house in Branford. Police in Branford recognized the murder sufferer as Anthony P. Esposito.

Esposito Jr. was taken into custody Thursday following a visitors cease with the help of the Connecticut State Police, Branford police mentioned.

Throughout his arraignment on Friday in New Haven Superior Court docket, prosecutors mentioned Esposito Jr. allegedly instructed police he "brutally" beat his son as a result of the 12-year-old was being disrespectful.

Anthony Andrew Esposito Jr., in white, seems in New Haven Superior Court docket in New Haven, Connecticut, Might 2, 2025.

WTNH

He's additionally accused of pushing his teenage daughter down the steps and allegedly admitted to police that if he have been capable of get the baseball bat, he would have killed her, too, prosecutors mentioned.

His protection lawyer instructed the courtroom that Esposito Jr. has had psychological well being points since he was a younger youngster, together with a number of psychiatric hospitalizations throughout childhood, and famous that the police report mirrored that he was listening to voices.

Esposito Jr. stays held on a $3 million bond, police mentioned. The protection had requested for the bond to be lowered to $1 million, however the choose stored it at $3 million, ABC New Haven affiliate WTNH reported.

The case stays beneath investigation.

"Branford Police are working intently with the Branford Public College System to make sure that grief counselors and assist providers can be found to college students, employees, and households affected by this tragedy," the Branford Police Division mentioned in a press launch. "We perceive that is an extremely troublesome time for our group, and our hearts are with Anthony's household, associates, classmates, and academics."

Counseling assist will likely be held on Saturday at a Branford center college, WTNH reported.

"On behalf of the Branford Public Colleges, we prolong our deepest condolences to the household, associates, and all these impacted by this unimaginable tragedy," Branford Public Colleges Superintendent Christopher Tranberg mentioned in an announcement to WTNH. "Our hearts are with them throughout this extremely troublesome time."