Senator McLachlan’s Bill Aims to Protect Privacy of Families of Murdered Children

The Connecticut legislature’s Judiciary Committee on Monday held a public hearing on Danbury State Senator Michael McLachlan’s bill which would allow the parents of a child who was a homicide victim to request that the autopsy report not be publicly disclosed. (S.B. No. 1054).

Dr. William Petit Jr. testified in favor of the bill. On July 23, 2007, Dr. Petit’s wife and two daughters were murdered during a home invasion in Cheshire.

“The release of autopsy reports exacerbates the nightmare for devastated families,” Senator McLachlan said. “Families who have endured such horrific tragedies shouldn’t be victimized a second time by the public airing of their children’s autopsy reports. Our goal is to protect the privacy of families of murdered children. The child’s parents should be allowed to choose whether to limit access to these records.”

The proposed legislation would allow autopsies to be sealed from the public only by the parent or legal guardian of a murdered child – and they must remain available to law enforcement agencies, public social service agencies, defense attorneys, civil litigants and various others with stakes in the case.

Attached photo: Danbury State Senator Michael McLachlan (at right) questions Dr. William Petit Jr. (with back to camera) during a February 28 public hearing on McLachlan’s bill which would allow the parents of a child who was a homicide victim to request that the autopsy report not be publicly disclosed.