Police Identify Man Murdered Wednesday

Police Friday released the identity of the man found murdered along the Farmington Canal linear trail as Tobin Mellish, 52, who apparently was living in a tent by the trail.

Mellish was identified through fingerprints, police said, though he has no active cases listed on the state's judicial website.

Mellish was allegedly killed by Ray Martin, 41, who lived in the tent with him. Police have classified the homicide as a case of domestic violence.

Martin was charged with murder and is being held on a $1 million bond. He was arraigned Thursday in Meriden Superior Court, where his case was continued to Dec. 14.

According to police, Martin bludgeoned Mellish with a baseball bat in the early morning hours of Dec. 1. Martin then tried to enlist the help of a friend to bury the dead man, but the friend instead called police.

Officers located Martin a short time latter at a nearby coffee shop where he was selling newspapers.

The chief state medical examiner's office determined that Mellish died of blunt force trauma. 

The two were living in a tent along the trail in the area behind Price Rite at 1869 Dixwell Ave. in the Parkway Plaza next to Home Depot.

Mellish is listed as having been homeless but had previously lived in the areas of both Stamford and Bridgeport. Before taking up residence in the tent, he lived in a New Haven homeless shelter, police said.