If you are interested in the history on this check out the Hartford Courant articles and look for reference to homeless person named "Fudge". Perhaps this case will provide credible evidence to support the existence of this story? We don't have a witness list as the public so we don't even know if the "Reporter" from the Hartford Courant is on the list to testify.
To my knowledge we have never seen any photo or video of Fudge (or photo or video of person that gave up Fudge either for that matter) or mention of Fudge from law enforcement. Given the extensive video capabilities on Albany imo to the extent this person existed then the footage from Hartford Command would exist to support it. I also don't believe the original article contained any photographs by the "Reporter" of the person interviewed (no sourcing provided iirc) and at the time the article sourcing iirc was questioned and never supported by the "Reporter" and rumours existed that the source of the article might have been Atty Pattis or a member of firm.
Could the story as reported been true? I don't think we can know unless evidence exists to support it imo.
Here is a link to one of the "Fudge" stories that to me seemed like nothing more than a series of stories describing a 'snipe hunt'. If you know you know about snipe hunts.....
HC Fudge Article September