CT couple dead following apparent murder-suicide

Two people are dead following an apparent murder-suicide in Danbury this week.

Investigators believe 29-year-old Dheraldy Caldeira used a large kitchen knife to kill a 21-year-old woman in an apartment on Griffing Avenue where both dead adults and a toddler who appeared unharmed were found Monday at 7:34 a.m., according to the Danbury Police Department. Police said the woman — who has not been identified — was in a domestic relationship with Caldeira.

Police officers were dispatched to the apartment for “some type of crisis intervention” and learned while they were en route that the incident involved a possible suicide, Danbury police Detective Capt. Mark Williams said in a statement Wednesday.

Firefighters and medics arrived at the apartment before police and entered the unit, where they found the two dead victims, according to Williams. The toddler in the apartment appeared unharmed and was taken in an ambulance to Danbury Hospital to be evaluated as a precaution, Williams said. An examination by medical staff showed no apparent injury to the child.

Williams said evidence at the scene and findings from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner suggested Caldeira killed the 21-year-old woman before committing suicide. Police believe he used a large kitchen knife, according to Williams.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on Wednesday said Caldeira died of sharp injuries to his neck.

“As the two were in a domestic relationship, this is an example of domestic violence of the worst kind,” Williams said.

Williams said disclosure laws prevent authorities from identifying the female victim or the toddler.