Police: Orange man, 22, accused of killing mother, 58 Hopkins School graduate to be arraigned today in Derby

Orange police block off Wild Rose Drive as a homicide that occurred in the area Thursday is investigated. Orange police block off Wild Rose Drive as a homicide that occurred in the area Thursday is investigated. Photo: Melanie Stengel — New Haven Register Photo: Melanie Stengel — New Haven Register Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Police: Orange man, 22, accused of killing mother, 58 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

ORANGE >> A 22-year-old man was charged Thursday in the killing of his 58-year-old mother, , police said.

Timothy Granata, 22, a Hopkins School and Lehigh University student, is charged with murder in the death of his mother, Claudia Granata, a medical doctor who goes by the name Dinan professionally.

After police responded to the home on 130 Wild Rose Drive and found the woman dead, Timothy Granata was found a short distance outside the home unarmed, according to police. He offered no resistance when officers arrested him, Police Chief Robert Gagne said, and police blocked access to the street.

Gagne would not disclose how the woman died or whether there was a weapon used.

“It was an obvious homicide,” he said.

The slain woman’s husband, Attilio, is a graduate of Yale University and is an associate clinical professor of medicine at the Yale University School of Medicine, according to the school’s website.

Orange police were being assisted by the Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad in processing the scene.

Police were called to the family home Thursday at 2:18 p.m. Granata’s body was discovered when paramedics arrived, Gagne said at a press conference at police headquarters later Thursday. The mother and son both lived in the house, police said.

Gagne said an autopsy will be performed by the state medical examiner. Timothy Granata was being held in lieu of $2 million bail, and is to be arraigned at Superior Court in Derby Friday morning.

Gagne would not say if the accused had any type of mental illness or previous history of violence, or whether drugs were involved. Gagne said police have been to the area for burglaries, but did not comment any further on any history at the home.

At the press conference, police had a message from the Granata family: “The Grenata fanily has asked us to convey that they wish to thank everyone for rallying around them at this difficult and tragic time, and are grateful for the prayers and thoughts.”

The accused killer, public records show, was a graduate of the Hopkins School, where he played football. He went on to Lehigh University, where he was on the wrestling team for one year.

The last time there was a homicide in town was in 1992, when George Young killed his mother with a baseball bat, allegedly over drug money.

Irene Anthis, an Orange resident of 45 years who lives down the street from the scene, was surprised to hear about the report of a homicide in the neighborhood.

“Everybody minds their business,” Anthis said. She was told no information about the investigation.

Richard Basile lives a few steps away from where Wild Rose Drive was blocked off by police tape. He’s been a resident for 20 years. Basile arrived to his home and saw the road was blocked off.

“It’s just so quiet,” Basile said. “There’s never really nothing going on here. It’s not a real close, tight-knit area.”

Register reporter Pam McLoughlin contributed to this story. Have questions, feedback or ideas about our news coverage? Connect directly with the editors of the New Haven Register at AskTheRegister.com.