Murder Suspect Walks Into View At Truck Stop, Surrenders: Police

HAGERSTOWN, MD — As investigators huddled at a Hagerstown truck stop Wednesday night for an update in search for a murder suspect, the target of a multi-state manhunt strolled into view and surrendered without a struggle. University of Connecticut student Peter Manfredonia as taken into custody near a Pilot truck stop on Halfway Boulevard in Hagerstown.

Officials said shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday that Manfredonia was arrested without incident by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Washington County Sheriff's Office. Since about noon Wednesday, Maryland state troopers had been in the Hagerstown area following up on reports that Manfredonia may have been in the region. While at the travel center, officers spotted Manfredonia coming out of a wooded area behind the business.

Manfredonia was on the run for six days, Hagerstown Police said Wednesday evening, adding he likely took an Uber from a Sheetz convenience store in Pennsylvania to Hagerstown.

Manfredonia, 23, is accused in the slayings of Theodore DeMers, 62, in Willington, Connecticut, on Friday; and Nicholas Eisele, 23, in Derby, Connecticut, on Sunday. The Connecticut Medical Examiner's Office said DeMers was killed by "sharp force and chop injuries of the head with sharp force injuries of the torso and extremities," while Eisele's death was caused by "gunshot wounds to his head."

According to Maryland State Police, Manfredonia is being held in Maryland as a fugitive, pending extradition proceedings from Connecticut, possibly by next week. The potential charges he faces have not yet been outlined.

At a news conference Thursday afternoon, Lt. Michael Pendleton, commanding officer of the Connecticut State Police Central District, said a group of investigators was receiving an update at the truck stop when a detective noticed a large man about 20 feet away, walking along a woodline. Officers drew their weapons and ordered the man, later identified as Manfredonia, to get on the ground.

"He immediately did what he was told, he did not resist and no force was used to execute the arrest," Pendleton said.

A weapon was located about 200 yards from the scene of Manfredonia's arrest, contained inside a black bag. The suspect walked authorities to the bag, Pendleton said.

The commander said at the time of his arrest, Manfredonia "was not agitated" and he "followed all directions."

Warning Before Suspect's Capture

"At this time, we believe that the suspect was and possibly still is, in the Hagerstown, Washington County area," police said before the arrest. "We are working closely with allied law enforcement agencies and we urge the public to use extreme caution. If you believe you see Manfredonia, do not approach him and call 911 immediately.

"While we don’t want to alarm you, we do want you to be alert," Hagerstown Police said on Facebook. "We are working this investigation as if he is still in the area until we can prove otherwise. We ask that you keep your homes locked, don’t answer the door unless you know who is there and be aware of your surroundings."

Investigators are reviewing surveillance camera footage to see if they can spot Manfredonia in town, and working with local and federal authorities, Lt. Rebecca Fetchu of the Hagerstown Police Department told Patch. It's possible Manfredonia is in town, or passed through Hagerstown, and police are looking into both angles.

"Should you see this suspect, do not approach him as he is considered extremely armed and dangerous," Hagerstown Police posted on Facebook. "Manfredonia is wanted for murder, multiple home invasions and numerous other crimes. If he is seen, call 911 immediately."

In the aftermath of Eisele's shooting death, Manfredonia reportedly abducted the victim's girlfriend and stole a Volkswagen Jetta. Both the woman and car were found several hours later off Interstate 80 in New Jersey, near the Pennsylvania border, police said.

Police and Manredonia's family had issued statements urging him to call 911 and turn himself in.

Manfredonia has struggled with mental health issues for years, but has never been violent, said Michael Dolan, a lawyer for Manfredonia’s family.

“They believe that he will surrender peacefully if and when he is confronted by police officers,” Dolan told the Hartford Courant.

Lt. John Aiello with the Connecticut State Police had a message for Manfredonia on Tuesday.

“Peter, we’ve talked to your family," Aiello said. "We’ve talked to your friends and your roommates. All of them have said the same thing, that this behavior is out of the ordinary for you.

Aiello said Manfredonia will be safe if he turns himself in.

But Pennsylvania authorities warned the public that Manfredonia is considered armed and dangerous.

A stolen Hyundai Santa Fe was recovered Wednesday near a Sheetz convenience store in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. The SUV had been reported stolen from East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, where the last officially confirmed sighting of Manfredonia had occurred, Trooper Anthony Petroski said.

Surveillance video showed a man resembling Manfredonia inside the store. He then summoned an Uber driver and set out for Hagerstown, Petroski said. Hagerstown is less than 25 miles from Chambersburg.

A police department in Duryea, Pennsylvania, reported a possible sighting of Manfredonia late Tuesday night, though a search produced no results.

Around 11:15 p.m., a Duryea firefighter called police after seeing a man carrying a large backpack and hiding behind a dumpster behind the Germania Hose fire company. The firefighter reported that he had asked the man what he was doing, but the man fled toward a wooded area and railroad tracks. The description provided by the witness was very similar to Manfredonia, according to Duryea police.

Detectives and Pennsylvania State Police troopers went to the scene and searched the wooded area and railroad tracks, aided by a state police helicopter. After several hours of searching the area, no one was found, Duryea police said.

Duryea is about 50 miles northwest of East Stroudsburg, where Manfredonia was last known to have exited a ride-share vehicle and walked onto railroad tracks behind a Walmart Sunday night, according to Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Anthony Petroski.

Following DeMers' death, Manfredonia was reported to have left the scene on a motorcycle, which was found in mid-afternoon Friday in Willington. Police say Manfredonia broke into a Willington home early Sunday morning and stole multiple firearms along with the homeowner's vehicle, which was located in Derby.

The last confirmed sighting of Manfredonia was Sunday.

Police asked anyone with information about Manfredonia or the investigation to contact the FBI tip line at 203-503-5555.

Reporting by Tim Jensen, Patch editor.