Interviews with law enforcement officials and lawyers for the men, and friends, co-workers and relatives of all involved, along with a study of court records, paint a picture of what happened that morning and show that there were missed opportunities on both sides of the law leading up to the deaths.<\/p>\n
The criminal justice system failed to treat Mr. Hayes and Mr. Komisarjevsky as serious offenders despite long histories of recidivism, repeatedly setting them free on parole. The suspects never capitalized on those chances to turn their lives around, instead apparently forming a new criminal alliance after meeting at a drug treatment center in Hartford.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no question about it: The system didn\u2019t work,\u201d\u009d Dr. Petit\u2019s father, William A. Petit Sr., 73, said last weekend outside his home in Plainville, 12 miles north, where the family has long formed a pillar of civic life. He paused, then added: \u201cIt\u2019s too late now.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
It started out like any summer Sunday.<\/p>\n