Branford Man Among Four Arrested in '12 Home Invasion Case

Last year on August 6, Connecticut State Police received a 911 call reporting that a home invasion and shooting had occurred at a home in Sharon, Connecticut.

The town of Sharon (pop. 2,800) is located in the far northwest corner of the state in Litchfield County. 

Troopers from Troop B responded to the home at 399 Cornwall Bridge Road where they discovered a bound female victim, Rita Vitalis, who appeared to be unharmed, and a male victim, Lucas Vitalis, who was suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.  

Lucas Vitalis was pronounced dead at the scene by EMS respondents.  

The State Police Western District Major Crime Squad Detectives have conducted this investigation.   

Detectives processed the crime scene and conducted numerous interviews, determining that two white male suspects, wearing dark gloves, knit caps, and with bandanas covering their faces, entered the residence, secured the female victim's hands, and then proceeded upstairs and shot the male victim.  

A handgun with a long silver barrel was observed by the female victim, and a dark-colored SUV was observed on the street prior to the entry of the perpetrators into the residence.  

State Police Detectives worked for the past 13 months following leads and  interviewing numerous people. Detectives processed evidence to the Forensic Lab for analysis in this case. Leads and information were developed with the assistance of the State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force and local police departments including Branford and Madison.

State Police Detectives submitted three arrest warrant applications to Litchfield Superior Court on Sept. 10, 2013 for the arrest of four suspects:

Hiral Patel, 25, of Marks Court, Branford

Niraj Patel, 26, of Partridge Road, Warren

Michael Calabrese, 27, of Partridge Road, Warren

The above three suspects were charged with felony murder, home invasion, kidnapping in the first degree with a firearm, robbery in the first degree, and hindering prosecution. 

Also arrested was Shyam Patel, 27 of Partridge Road, Warren. He was charged with tampering with physical evidence and hindering prosecution. 

The four men are being held on a court set bond and will be arraigned in Litchfield Superior Court on Sept. 12.  

The State Police investigation is continuing as additional arrests are anticipated. 

--information supplied by the CT State Police