Cromwell Nursing Home Murder-Suicide IDs Released: Police

CROMWELL, CT —Friday's shooting that left two dead at a Cromwell nursing home facility was a murder-suicide involving a female patient and her husband, according to police and nursing home officials.

The Cromwell Police Department Friday afternoon identified the woman shot and killed as Barbara Brandt, 81, who had been a resident at the Apple Rehab facility in Cromwell for three years.

Her husband, Dennis Brandt, 82, was the gunman who then shot himself and died at the scene, police said.

According to the CPD, at 10:58 a.m., the department received several 911 calls from 156 Berlin Road, the site of Apple Rehab, for a report of an active shooter.

"The first officers on scene went directly to the room from where the shots were heard," Cromwell police said in a statement. "When officers entered the room, they found two
individuals."

Police said the incident was contained to Apple Rehab and there were no threats to the public.

Police said the incident is being investigated by the Cromwell Police Department Detective Division; the Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Unit; and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Michael Landi, vice president of operations at Apple Rehab, released a statement on behalf of the company, which is based out of Avon.

"It is with great sadness to inform you that the husband of one of our residents at Apple Rehab Cromwell took the life of his wife and then his own this morning," wrote Landi in a statement.

According to Landi, Barbara Brandt did not have a roommate and there were no witnesses to the murder-suicide.

"Our staff reacted immediately by calling 911. No other residents or staff were injured or involved," Landi said.

According to Landi, there were no known previous threats and the motive is "unknown to us at this time."

He said Apple Rehab will be providing staff and residents there "any and all resources and counseling services that they may need to get through this tragic event, many of which are already onsite."

"We will provide you more details as we get them, but currently we will be working closely with the Cromwell Police Department and other state agencies," said Landi.

State health officials released a statement on the shooting Friday afternoon.

Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani expressed sympathy for the victims' families.

She said the facility is licensed as an 85-bed chronic and convalescent nursing home.

"The DPH Facility Licensing and Investigations Section will continue to monitor the quality of care and services provided at the center to ensure a safe environment," Juthani said. "DPH will not be providing any further comment regarding this incident."

If you are having suicidal thoughts, dial 988 for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.