Wallingford Man Charged With Manslaughter in Death of Woman, 21

Police have arrested a local man on a charge of manslaughter in connection with the death of a Wallingford woman who suffered a fatal drug overdose in January. 

Colin McKernon, 24, was taken into custody Wednesday on a warrant following a lengthy investigation into the death of 21-year-old Brittney Williams.


A nine-month police investigation revealed that McKernon personally injected heroin into Williams and tried to get rid of the narcotics before emergency responders rushed in to save her from a medical emergency, police said in a news release Wednesday.

On Jan. 15, Wallingford Police and Fire departments responded to McKernon's 34 Cornwell Road home after getting a 911 call reporting an unresponsive woman — later identified as Williams. The young woman was rushed to Mid State Medical Center in Meriden where she later died.

The Office of the Chief States Medical Examiner determined her cause of her death as "multiple drug toxicity," or a drug overdose.

During the investigation police determined that McKernon had bought heroin in New Haven earlier that day and "personally injected Williams" with the drug during the evening of Jan. 15. Police said McKernon then hid or threw out the drug paraphernalia and remaining heroin just before the responders got to his house.

"During the course of the investigation McKernon provided police with false and/or misleading information in an attempt to mislead the investigation," police said in the news release.

McKernon was charged with first-degree manslaughter, illegal distribution of narcotics, tampering with physical evidence and interfering with a police officer. Currently he is being held on a $200,000 court-set bond.  

At the time of his arrest, McKernon was in the custody of the Connecticut Department of Corrections serving a sentence for DUI. He appeared in Meriden Superior Court on Wednesday.

“This arrest should serve as continued reminder that the sale, possession and uses of illegal narcotics is detrimental your health, welfare and freedom," Wallingford police spokesman Lt. Mark Mikulski said in a news release. "The Wallingford Police Department is committed to aggressively seeking out and prosecuting anyone who uses and/or profits from illegal drugs. We will continue to utilize every resource at our disposal as we strive to keep our community a safe place to live and work.”

Police also advised residents that narcotics or other criminal related tips can be made on the Wallingford Police Department’s tip line at (203) 269-NARC (6272). All calls will be kept confidential.