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State Police Detectives Thomas Kiely, Christopher Allegro and Raymond Insalaco each received a Medal for Outstanding Service. They were honored with others during a ceremony July 8 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.
The detectives from the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Squad were called in to help by the Westport police after Westport jeweler Yekutiel Zeevi was robbed and murdered in his business on the evening of Dec. 8, 2011.
Zeevi was killed and his business associate shot and seriously wounded during the robbery at Y.Z. Jewelry Manufacturing, Zeevi's Post Road East business.
The assailant had made an appointment with the two to examine high-quality diamonds, then calmly shot both men before stealing more than $600,000 worth of diamonds. The only clue was a cellphone number to a disposable phone written on a desk blotter.
The major crime detectives, working alongside Westport Police Detectives and the U.S. Marshal’s Office, spent countless hours canvassing jewelry stores in New York City and identified other jewelers who had met previously with the assailant.
Using surveillance photos from those stores, a composite sketch, and information from a phone, they determined the suspect had traveled in and out of the country surrounding the dates of his appointments with various jewelers.
Numerous flight manifests were examined and compared with airport video to identify the suspect, who had moved to Spain with his family shortly after the homicide.
Working with Spanish authorities, the suspect was taken into custody. However, before being extradited back to the U.S. the suspect committed suicide in a Spanish jail.
Further information was developed that the suspect also was involved in numerous crimes in other states, resulting in the arrest of various accomplices during the next two years.
Twice a year, the Connecticut State Police honor troopers who demonstrate exceptional service in the line of duty as well as other first responders, law enforcement officials and civilians.
Award winners receive medals and certificates from Commissioner Dora B. Schriro and State Police Col. Brian Meraviglia.
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