Ansonia police give update on homicide, missing girl investigation
Police spent part of the morning interviewing nearby neighbors.
Joe Baldespino, who lives across the street, was one of those questioned. “The lady was quiet,” he said. “I saw the little girl.
“I saw the gentleman two times and once he asked me for work,” added Baldespino, a cook employed by Southern Connecticut State University. “I gave him the website.”
Baldespino said there were several cars near the home on Thanksgiving.
Nicole Pagano, who lives nearby, took a walk to the crime scene with her 11-year-old daughter and 8-year-old niece. “We heard there was a Silver Alert for the little girl online and we’re getting updates,” Pagano said. “We walk this area often and never saw anyone there.”
The two girls said they went to the house on Halloween, but no one answered the door.
The residential street is filled with well-kept multifamily homes and is not far from Santini’s pizza and Castle Beverages.
Dave Pantalone, who co-owns Castle, and Sal Haniaf, a former aldermanic candidate, were unaware of the incident when passing by Tuesday.
“This is the best neighborhood in town,” Pantalone said. “Nothing ever happens here.”
“It’s all families,” Haniaf added. “It’s the best street in Ansonia.”
