The man charged with murdering Kim and Tim Donnelly, longtime members of the Univeristy community, was arraigned Tuesday in Bridgeport Superior Court.
The Donnellys were robbed and murdered on Feb. 2, 2005 in their Fairfield jewelry store. Kim Donnelly was a former University professor and the couple’s son, Eric Donnelly, graduated from Fairfield in 2001.
The accused, Chris DiMeo, fought extradition to Connecticut for over a year, but was finally brought from New York at the end of March. At that time he was held on a $5 million bail and charged with capital felony, two counts of felony murder, two counts of murder and one count each of first-degree robbery and criminal possession of a handgun.
On April 10, an extra charge was added as Greenwich police arrested DiMeo for allegedly stealing the handgun used in the Donnelly slayings.
The judge added a $50,000 bail for the Greenwich charges.
Police searched for DiMeo and his girlfriend, Nicole Pearce, for two days after the shooting, finally arresting them at a motel in Atlantic City, N.J. Both later pleaded guilty to the robbery and murder of a Long Island jeweler, Thomas Renison, the manager of J’J Jewelry, a Glen Head, N.Y. store.
DiMeo was sentenced to a life term and is scheduled for a hearing on May 14. Pearce was sentenced to 20 years for robbery but has not been arraigned in Bridgeport yet.
DiMeo’s mother, Maryann Taylor-Casey, 40, was arrested and charged with driving the getaway car in the jewelry robbery.
The Donnelly murders stunned the community, not only because a murder had not occurred in Fairfield in nine years, but because the Donnellys were well-known and well-liked. More than 1,000 people attended the funeral. The Donnellys’ daughter Tara also graduated from Fairfield in 2003.
“It still amazes me how many people my parents knew and how many people are willing to help remember their memory in a positive way,” said Eric Donnelly. “It’s the best tribute they could have.”
The Donnellys are still an active part of the community, as their family started a music scholarship in their name at the University. The Donnelly Walk and a musical festival at the Black Rock Arts Center are two upcoming events that help fund the scholarship and pay tribute to the Donnelly family.
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