Posted on 07/08/2009 4:39:37 AM PDT by raybbr
SOUTH WINDSOR - Bomb technicians and other investigators are expected this morning at the charred remains of 96 Tumblebrook Drive to examine wires, tubing, other devices that police say could be explosives that were installed by Richard Shenkman in the days leading up to a court-ordered transfer of the home to his ex-wife as part of a divorce settlement.
Shenkman, if he is not hospitalized, is to be arraigned this morning in Superior Court in Manchester on a host of charges, including kidnapping, arson, reckless endangerment, unlawful discharge of a firearm, interfering with police and other charges.
Police say that Shenkman kidnapped his wife in the parking lot of her workplace Tuesday morning, took her to the South Windsor house and held her against her will until Tuesday night, then burned the house down while begging police to shoot him.
South Windsor police Cmdr. Matthew Reed said bomb technicians would be at the home this morning to determine whether there are any bombs at the home. While battling the fire early today, after Shenkman surrendered, firefighters found a suspected bomb and Hartford bomb squad officers, who'd been at the scene much of the day, were called back to examine it, Reed said.
"We're treating it as though there are explosives," Reed said.
Firefighters were on the scene until nearly 3 a.m. today wetting down the remains of the house. They did not initially attack the fire because Shenkman was still in the house and was indiscriminately firing some type of gun.
More than three dozen gunshots were heard Monday evening. Reed said all those shots came from Shenkman. Police, who'd surrounded the house, did not fire back.
The gunfire and flames erupted about 9:30 Tuesday night, after Shenkman's ex-wife, Nancy Tyler, got out.
(Excerpt) Read more at courant.com ...
Shenkman and Tyler were scheduled to be in Superior Court in Hartford Tuesday morning for yet another round in their protracted divorce. He had repeatedly refused a judge's order to vacate 96 Tumblebrook Drive and turn it over to Tyler.
"Today was D-Day," said his attorney, Hugh Keefe, on Tuesday.
Hugh Keefe is a very high profile, high-priced lawyer in CT.
Shenkman refused, however, and begged police to kill him.
Hmmmmm.....
Shenkman made numerous demands of police, including that media organizations, among them The Courant, not cover the standoff as it developed.
News executives at The Courant declined to remove coverage from its website. At a 3 p.m. press conference, Reed said the continued coverage by The Courant was complicating negotiations.
Editors then discussed the demand and decided complying could set a precedent for future hostage situations.
They think they are the U.S. Government.
I feel bad for this guy.
No house and no alimony...he’ll go to prison and perhaps see a shrink...but she’ll get nothing!(well perhaps the lot the house sits on.)
Not if they have replacement insurance on the house. Oh, wait. Arson.
Oh, well!
What a jackass. Kill him.
Just drove by there.
Road is blocked off, but foot traffic was allowed.
The Hartford bomb squad is still there and a couple of South Windsor cruisers. No media. I couldn’t see the house.
Lots of cars parked on adjacent streets. Must have been a lot of displaced neighbors.
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