Man Charged With Murder of Hamden Woman

Hamden police have charged a local man with the murder of a 45-year-old woman who was found in her burning home on Lilac Avenue in Hamden in December.

The body of Jennifer Antonier was found on the second floor of her Lilac Avenue home just before 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 26.  The front of her neck had been cut and the medical examiner determined her death was homicide.

She died of wounds of the neck and upper left extremity with blunt injury of upper left extremity.

Hamden police have identified the 45-year-old woman killed in a fatal house fire early Saturday morning and said her death is being investigated as a homicide.

Police said the fire at Antonier's house started on the front porch and it had been set.

Benjamin Carpenter, 26, of Hamden, has been charged with murder, arson in the first degree, tampering with evidence and conspiracy charges.

Police said Antonier and Carpenter knew each other, but did not elaborate on how they knew each other. 

He was arrested on Wednesday with help from several United States Marshal Service Task Force members, Hamden police said.

He was detained at police headquarters on a court-ordered $1 million bond and was transported to Meriden Superior Court this morning.

Carpenter was arraigned and is due back in court on March 1.

Police are continuing to investigate and said more arrests are possible.

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