Plea Deal In Deadly Fairfield Crash Rejected By Ex-Firefighter

FAIRFIELD, CT — The case of a former Easton firefighter accused of killing a woman in a Fairfield hit-and-run will go to trial after the man rejected a plea deal.

Declan P. Kot appeared Wednesday before Judge Kevin Doyle to decline the offer.

“Once you reject it today, it is gone,” Doyle said.

Kot, who was 22 at the time of the crash, is accused of striking 32-year-old Marileidy Morel-Araujo on the Fourth of July 2020 and fleeing the scene after a day of drinking, authorities have said.

Kot was offered 20 years in prison, suspended after eight years, and followed by five years of probation in exchange for pleading guilty to all charges. He is charged with second-degree manslaughter, evidence tampering and evading responsibility. If convicted, Kot would face up to 10 years in prison, as much as a $10,000 fine or both.

“The state feels that this is a fair offer,” prosecutor Tiffany Lockshier said.

READ MORE: Ex-Firefighter Charged With Manslaughter In Fairfield Hit-And-Run

Araujo was a resident of Matamoras, Pennsylvania, and was celebrating the July Fourth holiday with family in Fairfield the day of the crash. She was walking her dog when Kot struck her with the side mirror of his white Dodge Ram pickup and fled the 2000 block of Redding Road, authorities said at the time. Police stopped Kot three days later while he was driving the suspect vehicle and arrested him the following evening.

Kot admitted to driving after having six drinks the day of the crash, the Connecticut Post has reported. He initially claimed he thought he hit a tree branch, but later admitted to having seen Araujo, according to the Post.

Lockshier said she remains in contact with a victim’s advocate and Araujo’s family.

“They are anxious for this to go to trial,” she said.

Kot, who is free on $150,000 bond, wore a button-up shirt and navy slacks to court Wednesday, and said little during the proceedings. His attorney, John Gulash, confirmed with Doyle that Kot intends to plead not guilty, but declined further comment after the court appearance.

The case will continue in the coming weeks before Judge Kevin Russo at Bridgeport’s Main Street courthouse.