Hamden explosion probe leads to discovery of man’s body in West Rock State Park

Connecticut State Police spokesperson and Trooper First Class Kelly Grant address media during a press conference Saturday night near the scene of an explosion in Hamden. Connecticut State Police spokesperson and Trooper First Class Kelly Grant address media during a press conference Saturday night near the scene of an explosion in Hamden. Photo: (Esteban L. Hernandez - New Haven Register) Photo: (Esteban L. Hernandez - New Haven Register) Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Hamden explosion probe leads to discovery of man’s body in West Rock State Park 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

HAMDEN >> The body of a man covered in plastic or other material was found in a wooded area of West Rock State Park late Saturday morning, near where police responded to reports of an explosion, State Police said.

The State Police Central District Major Crime Squad is investigating, along with local police, the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to determine if there’s a connection between the explosion and the body. Police said individuals were seen in the area and the suspects might be in a gold/champagne colored Nissan Altima bearing a Florida registration plate.

The explosion was reported at 11:12 a.m. on Wintergreen Avenue near Carbonella Drive. The body was discovered nearby, Police Chief Thomas Wydra said. The name of the victim is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Wydra said there was evidence of an explosion near the body, though he could not provide details.

Mayor Curt Balzano Leng, noting that residents are not in any danger related to the event, said police are working to identify the “manner and cause of death.”

“Because this is an ongoing investigation, we have been unable to give as many updates as we might like throughout the day. That said, impressive public safety work was completed today,” Leng said. “We will put out additional information as soon as it is responsible to do so. Thank you for understanding and be assured that if there was any consideration that Hamden residents were in any added danger due to this horrific incident, information would have been released by the Hamden Police Department and the town throughout the day.”

The New Haven police bomb squad was on scene Saturday, along Hamden and Southern Connecticut State University Police.

Wintergreen Avenue was closed between Woodin Street and the New Haven city line for much of Saturday, while the vicinity of Wintergreen Avenue near Carbonella Drive was lined with several law enforcement vehicles.

Two residents on Carbonella Drive said they heard a loud bang Saturday.

A woman who identified herself as Taryn E., said she heard a loud boom and felt a vibration through the house at about 11:30 a.m. She said she initially thought a tree may have fallen on the house. The sound was loud enough that it awoke one of the residents.

“It sounded like something dropped. It was like an airplane,” she said. “The house kind of trembled a little bit. First we thought it was a thunderstorm because it was kind of dark outside.”

Taryn E. said she went across the street to check on an elderly neighbor, who told her that the explosion may have been from a cherry bomb. She added that police did not notify them of any additional details regarding the investigation. Police asked residents if they had cameras in the house and if they had seen any suspicious activity in the neighborhood in the last few days.

Another resident on Carbonella said they heard a loud bang at around noon. Forty-five minutes later, the resident said police showed up at her door seeking information on the noise. The resident said she wasn’t immediately alarmed because she thought it may have been fireworks.

Anyone who may have information regarding the incident, or who may know the identity of the suspects is being asked to contact Central District Major Crime at 860-685-8190. All calls will be kept confidential, police said.

Reporter Ed Stannard contributed to this story

Reach Esteban L. Hernandez at 203-680-9901