A drifter who is already serving a prison sentence for killing a Wethersfield woman has been identified by NBC Connecticut as the suspected serial killer police believe is responsible for at least seven deaths in New Britain.
William Devin Howell, 45, was convicted of first-degree manslaughter in the death of Nilsa Arizmendi. Arizmendi was last seen in Howell's van in 2003. Her body was never found.
Howell is being held at Garner Correctional Institution in Newtown.
The news comes a day after New Britain Police announced the discovery of more skeletal remains that links the suspect to at least seven victims.
In 2007, skeletal remains were found in a dense, swampy forest behind a strip mall on Hartford Road in New Britain. Three victims were later identified, all women, and all believed to have been murdered by the same person, some time around 2003.
Police have searched the area since for more remains. Last year, a task force was created to investigate the murders, and in April of this year, a new search was launched in the same forest.
This time, a highly-skilled FBI cadaver dog was joined by heavy excavation equipment. The search turned up more skeletal remains, all dating back at least ten years, and consistent with the previous three murders.
In a press conference, New Britain Police Chief James Wardwell announced that the recent sweep yielded the remains of four more women, including the name of a new victim.
"Melanie Ruth Camilini was born May 11, 1973, and is from Seymour, Connecticut. Melanie Camilini was last seen in Waterbury in January, 2003," said Wardwell.
Camilini is the mother of two, and would have turned 42 on Monday.
Wardwell declined to comment about who may have committed these murders, but was confident that there is no danger to the public. "The ongoing investigation supports our strong belief that the person responsible for this is not able to continue this conduct at this time," he said.
Wardwell's comments would be consistent with the NBC Connecticut report that the task force is focusing on a single suspect, presumably William Devin Howell.
