Home of Newtown gunman destroyed

The Where Angels Play foundation constructed playgrounds in areas damaged by the Sandy Hurricane, one in memory of each of the 26 victims of the Sandy Hill Elementary school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012. Island Park is home to a playground memorializing one of those students, six-year-old Caroline Preivi.

The Lanza family moved from New Hampshire and bought the house in 1998. Adam Lanza, 20, killed his mother inside the house, the morning of Dec. 14, 2012, and then drove to the school where he shot 20 children and six adults before killing himself.

First Selectman E. Patricia Llodra said the heir to the Lanza family worked with residents of the town to find a way to deal with the property. After going through probate the Hudson City Savings Bank valued the house at $524,000 but sold it to the Town for $1. The public works department disconnected the utilities, cleaned the septic system and obtained all of the permits. The bank took on the responsibility and expense of removing and incinerating all of the contents of the home, even the rugs and lighting fixtures, so no memorabilia could be taken.

The Manafort Brothers, Inc. contracting company volunteered to tear down the house for free, even removing the driveway and foundation. The same company also demolished the Petit house in Cheshire, Conn., site of the 2007 home invasion and murder of a woman and her two daughters, and the assault on her husband.

Llodra said the town of cognizant of the meaning of the house to residents. “These young people had families, siblings, and the house was a reminder to them. This is a pain they will carry forever and we don’t want to add to that.”

The property borders on open space, and Llodra said they want to make this two-acre parcel part of that. “When the weather warms our public works will work to restore the site to its natural state.”

Where Angels Play Foundation is sponsoring an Easter Egg Hunt at the Caroline Previdi playground located on Masone Beach, 25 Waterford Road in Island Park, on April 4 beginning at 10 a.m. Participants are urged top bring their own basket for egg collecting. Contact events@whereangelsplayfoundation.org for information.