New London Mother Charged With Murder Had Contacted DCF: Report

NEW LONDON, CT — A New London woman charged with murdering her 4-year-old son had recently asked the state Department of Children and Families for help, according to The New London Day. Tiffany Farrauto, 33, had reported to the agency that she thought someone had hurt her son.

Farrauto was arrested Sunday and told officers she strangled the boy in her Nautilus Drive apartment, police said. She was held in custody in lieu of $2 million bail, which was set by a judge on Monday.

Farrauto, a single mother, has lived in New London for about eight years, and her mother told The New London Day that she suffers from "very serious mental issues." An attorney for Farrauto said that she has "underlying mental health issues that contributed to the incident."

Officers encountered Farrauto Sunday morning after someone reported she used a baseball bat to damage a vehicle in a Nautilus Drive parking lot, police said. Farrauto left the area then returned and told officers she hurt her son, police said.

Police went to her apartment to check on the child. They found the boy unconscious and unresponsive, called emergency medical personnel and began CPR in an attempt to resuscitate, police said.

The child was driven to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, and pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital, police said.

Farrauto was initially charged with two counts of third-degree criminal mischief, and then she was charged on a warrant with murder and risk of injury to a minor.

During a court appearance Monday, it was revealed that Farrauto said she lived in a police car, and that she wasn't allowed to say what where she worked, The Day reported.

"Our deepest condolences and sympathy to the family of the child," New London Police said in a statement. "The investigation remains active."

Mayor Michael Passero said "(it's) been a tough day for the city," while adding, "Our community is hurting. I want to express my condolences to the grieving family of this small child," as reported by The Day.

Police Chief Peter Reichard said the officers at the "crime scene" were "choked up by it."
"All of them there have children. Couple of them have children the same age, and it hits home. It hits you right in the guts," said Reichard, according to WFSB 3 TV.

The child's death is being investigated by the Connecticut State Police Major Crime Unit/Eastern District, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The New London Judicial District State's Attorney's Office was also notified, according to New London police officials.
Anyone who has information is urged to contact the New London Police Department's detective bureau at 860-447-1481. Anonymous information may be submitted via the New London Tips 411 system by texting NLPDTip plus the information to Tip411 (847411).