1. That, the Affiant, Rebecca J.

Leger, am a duly sworn member of the Enfield Police Department,

and have been so employed since November 2014, having previously served as a Police Officer in
Bloomfield, CT from 1996-2012. I presently hold the rank of Detective. At all pertinent times
mentioned here-in, I was acting in my official capacity as a Detective of the Enfield Police
Department. The following facts and circumstances are stated from personal knowledge,
observation and investigation, as well as information received from other officers acting in their
official capacity. The Affiant has investigated cases as set forth in the past.

2. That, on 08/20/19, Enfield Police Officer Prior received a complaint from Anna Delaney (11-14-
64) that her son, Anthony Ward (02/10/84), who will be referred to here-in as the Accused, was
missing. The information provided by Delaney included that she had received two letters in the mail
that day addressed to her from the Accused. The first letter instructed her to give the second sealed
letter to his ex- girlfriend, Nicole Mimitz (11-13-89). Anna said that she was concerned that the
Accused had harmed himself due to the wording of the letter. He had written that this was his “dying
request” and that the letter for Mimitz was “a nice goodbye letter explaining why I did this”. Officer
Prior noted that the envelope had been post marked out of Hartford CT on 08/19/19. Prior opened
and read the letter for Mimitz, who gave permission for him to do so by telephone. That letter details
that the Accused was upset that Mimitz had cheated on him. He made comments that he felt alone
and that he should be dead by the time she reads the letter. Anna informed Prior that the Accused is
a known abuser of opioids and may take methadone. the Accused suffers from depression, anxiety
and is bi-polar. Prior noted that Anna seemed to hesitate when asked if the Accused has violent
tendencies, but she ultimately answered that he does not. Anna stated that the Accused’s sister,
Angel Ward (04/13/88), told her that their grandmother, Frances Battagler (02/14/40), had picked the
Accused up from St. Francis hospital on Sunday 08/18/19.

3. That, Angel Ward was interviewed and confirmed that on Sunday 08/18/2019 at 9:55 am, she
received a text message from her grandmother, Frances, that the Accused had texted her and she
was picking him up at the hospital. Angel texted her back asking what hospital and she replied St.
Francis at 10:03 am. Frances replied that the Accused texted her that he had court on Monday and
that he would stay at her house. Frances said that he will behave and stay out of her way and did
not want to see Pat “his father” and that Frances would text Angel as soon as she could as she was
driving. At 2:41 PM Angel received a text from Frances’ phone that she was dropping him off now
and he was trying to call Angel but Frances never said where she was dropping him off. Angel
realized later that she missed several calls from a restricted number at 2:15 pm , 2:16pm, 2:19pm,
and 3:03. Angel checked her text messages to Frances. Frances’ phone is equipped with “read
receipt”, which marks a message as read upon the text being opened by the recipient. The last of
her texts to Frances to be marked “read” was at 2:22pm on 08-18-2019. She has not heard from
Frances since. She stated that the Accused has a heroin addiction and mental health issues. He has
killed animals in the past. Angel believes that he is also capable of killing someone.

4. That, On August 20, 2019, EPD Officers went to Frances Battagler’s residence, located at 47
Second Avenue in Enfield, CT to conduct a welfare check and to collect information that might lead
to locating the Accused. Upon arrival at 47 Second Ave, Officer Whitcomb and Sgt. Rutovich noted
that the house was dark. No interior or exterior lights were on and window shades were drawn. No
one came to the door or could be heard inside despite multiple attempts to knock and ring the
doorbell. The neighbor at 45 Second Avenue was able to tell officers that it is very unusual for
Frances not to have any lights on and that she is always home by that hour, causing her to be
concerned for Frances. She was unsure if she saw Frances that morning. She also noted that the
victim’s vehicle, a black Toyota Corolla was missing from her driveway and it is always home by that
time. Officers walked the perimeter of the home and noted that all the doors and windows were
locked from the inside. No forced entry or tampering of the doors or windows was noted. Fearing
that Frances may be in need of immediate assistance, Officers forced the front door and entered the
house. Officers noted that the interior of the house was disheveled and appeared “ransacked”. When
they reached the top of the stairs to the main floor, they observed an elderly female lying face down
on the hallway floor in a pool of blood, unresponsive. Upon closer visual examination officers noted
the woman had several wounds consistent with blunt force trauma to her head and that the blood
around her was mostly dry. Signs of death and decomposition were evident, and she was presumed
dead. After completing the search for additional victims and suspects, and finding none, Officers
secured the home in anticipation of a Mincey Search Warrant. The affiant was requested by patrol to
respond to the scene.

5. That, the victim’s vehicle, a black 2013 Toyota Corolla, CT AS63916, could not be located. It was
entered into COLLECT as stolen and possibly related to a homicide investigation.

6. That, a search and seizure “Mincey” warrant was applied for and granted at 0335 hours on
August 21, 2019. Ct State Police Eastern District Major Crimes Unit was called to the scene and
conducted the search. This Affiant conducted a preliminary walk through of the scene with Major
Crimes Investigators. I observed the victim, in a prone position on the main hallway floor with a pool
of thick and dried blood around her head and upper body, her feet extending into the furthest
bedroom. She had multiple wounds to her head consistent with blunt force trauma. I noted bruising
and abrasions on her left hand consistent with defensive wounds. A dark colored shirt was lying near
the victim in the pool of blood. Throughout the home, drawers and cabinets were open with contents
strewn about. Several jewelry boxes were opened and devoid of contents. Two television stands in
the house appear to be missing televisions, their cords remaining and plugged into power outlets. I
did note a full and unopened gallon of milk on the kitchen counter that appeared to be spoiled as if
left on the counter for an extended period of time. A bag of groceries was on the floor of the kitchen
near the milk, which contained other perishables, including cream cheese and orange juice. Next to
the bag of groceries was an opened bottle of bleach. Evidence that an effort was made to clean post
assault was noted in the hallway bathroom. Drops of blood like substance lead from the victim’s
body to the bathroom tub. A portable clothes drying rack was near the tub and leaning haphazardly
on top of the toilet and counter as if moved hastily. A pair of medical type gloves was found on the
edge of the tub. Several items of evidence were located and secured, including swabs of bloodlike
stains, the above mentioned medical gloves, the above mentioned bleach bottle, the dark colored
shirt found with bloodlike stains near the victim’s body, a BIG Y grocery store receipt and a key
confirmed to be the front door house key that was found in a trash tipper barrel in the driveway. I
noted that the house key had a small ring attached to it but no other keys or key chain. The weapon
used was not recovered at the scene.

7. That, the above mentioned Big Y grocery store receipt had been located during the search of 47
Second Avenue folded up and on the floor in close proximity the above described bag of groceries.
The receipt was date and time stamped, 08-18-2019, 12:25 pm, and included the above stated items
(gallon of milk, cream cheese and orange juice). Detective Callaghan and Chamberland went to the
Enfield Big Y Supermarket and met with security who was able to determine that the victim did have
a current Big Y shopping card account which allows the store to track her purchases when she
presents her card at the time of payment. Based on the victim’s Big Y card activity, security was able
to determine that a purchase had been made at the Enfield Big Y grocery store on the date and time
stamped on the receipt using the victim’s card. Security was then able to review video surveillance
footage from the interior of the store during that time frame. Within that time frame an elderly woman
and younger man are seen in the store, shopping together. The description of these two individuals
was consistent with the known description of the victim and the Accused. The video was preserved
as evidence and a still photograph of the two individuals was compared to the known DMV license
photograph of the victim and a current booking photograph of the Accused, confirming that they
were shopping together on 08-18-2019 at 12:25PM.

8. That, in further reviewing the still image of the victim and the Accused shopping at Big Y on 8-18-
2019 at 12:25 pm, I noted that the victim is wearing clothing consistent with the clothing she is
wearing at the time she is found deceased. The Accused is wearing a dark colored t-shirt with a
round American flag type design in the photo which is consistent in size, color, and design to the
dark colored shirt lying near the victim’s body. The dark color shorts and sneakers the Accused is
seen wearing at Big Y were not found at the crime scene.

9. That, a post mortem examination was conducted on the victim at the Office of the Chief Medical
Examiner in Farmington on August 22, 2019. This Affiant attended the autopsy, as well as members
of the Ct State Police Eastern District Major Crimes Unit. I was present for the exam, conducted by
Dr. White and was able to view the victim’s full injuries. Dr. White advised me that she noted twelve
wounds consistent with blunt trauma to the victim’s head, several of which penetrate the skull on the
top and rear. The victim has a linear bruise across the back of her left hand and her left middle finger
is nearly severed. Dr. White determined the Victim’s method of death to be blunt force trauma, most
likely caused by a heavy object, and the manner to be homicide.

10. That, an exigent request for phone records was requested from Verizon Wireless, the victim’s
cell phone carrier for the time period between 08-18-19 0900 hours and 08-21-19 0720 hours. The
record showed that the victim’s phone was used several times after the time period she and the
Accused were observed shopping at Big Y. The victim’s telephone was used on 08-18-2019 to call
three numbers. One call was to the number known to belong to Angel Ward. The second was to the
cell phone of Nicole Mimitz. The third phone call was placed to 860-726-6469 a number that is
associated with Jose Burgos, 49 Benton St Hartford, CT. Detectives Lewis and Callaghan
interviewed Burgos, who stated that he recalled the phone call. Burgos stated that it was from a guy
he met in Hartford last Friday who was looking for drugs. Burgos stated that the caller offered to sell
him a black Toyota Corolla for $1200.00. He received that call on 08-18-2019 at 1421 hours. Lewis
showed Burgos a picture of the Accused and Burgos confirmed that the Accused was the person
who called him from 860-899-7859 (the victim’s phone) on 08-18-2019 and offered to sell him the
car.

11. That, on August 21, 2019 at approximately 1500 hours, Wethersfield Police located the Accused
in possession of the victim’s black 2013 Toyota Corolla CT AS63916 off the road way having been
involved in a motor vehicle accident, where the Accused was the driver. According to the Fire
Marshall who was first on scene of the accident, the Accused emerged from the crashed vehicle
driver’s seat and was barefoot. The Accused had been injured in the crash, having lacerations to his
arms and head, and transported to Hartford Hospital for evaluation and then placed into protective
custody due to his suicidal letters which prompted the initial police involvement. The Toyota Corolla
was seized and towed to the Enfield Police Department under Police escort, where it was secured in
a locked garage in anticipation of a search and seizure warrant.

12. That, Enfield Detectives met with a Wethersfield Officer Foster who had stayed with the
Accused from the scene of the accident to and at the hospital. The Accused was being treated by
hospital staff at that time and was not interviewed. The Accused’s clothing had been collected by
hospital staff and packaged, then turned over to the Wethersfield Officer. Enfield Detectives took
possession of the clothing and they were logged into evidence at EPD. Detectives later returned to
the hospital where the Accused continued to be monitored by Wethersfield PD with a warrant to
search the Accused’s person for physical, biological, and trace evidence related to the homicide.
Several samples were taken, including the Accused’s fingernail clippings and swabs of his hands.
These items will be examined at the Connecticut State Police Forensic Science Lab. Detectives did
not interview the Accused at this time as he stated that he wanted to talk to his attorney first.

13. That, a search and seizure warrant was obtained for the victim’s Toyota Corolla, which
remained secured at the Enfield Police Department. On August 22, 2019 members of the Eastern
District Major Crimes Unit conducted a search of the vehicle. Several items of evidence were located
and secured, including a long hair with blood like substance from the driver’s floor, a swabbing of a
blood like substance from the vehicle trunk lid. Several items were seized from the vehicle’s trunk,
including a large black plastic bag containing the following items: a bath mat with a blood like stain, a
bath towel with bleach stains and a red hooded sweatshirt with a blood like stain. I noted that the car
key had a small ring attached to it but no other keys or key chain. These items will be examined at
the Connecticut State Police Forensic Science Lab. No item consistent with that which would cause
the victim’s fatal injuries was found in the vehicle. Neither were the Accused’s shoes.

14. That, I received a phone call from the Accused’s sister, Angel Ward, on August 26, 2019. She
was concerned for her safety, believing that the Accused would take revenge on her for her
statement to the police. She also believes that her father, Pat Ward, may know that the Accused
killed Frances because he has been behaving strangely. She stated that on Saturday August 17,
2019, when the Accused was missing her father acted like he didn’t care. Sunday, her father texted
her that he was really worried about the Accused. This was prior to the Accused sending the
concerning letters. Angel stated that her father had her talk to the Accused’s attorney on Saturday
August 24, 2019 and tell him what her statement was to the police. At that meeting both he and the
attorney were acting like they knew the Accused had killed Frances and her father was talking about
getting the Accused to plead insanity. He did not believe that the Accused should go to jail for the
rest of his life because no one liked Frances. Her father wouldn’t come right out and say the
Accused killed Frances. They told her that the Accused was in the hospital still and eventually
moved to the Institute of Living.

15. That, I was able to confirm that the Accused does have a history of acting violently and
threatening violence toward others. I was able to obtain a Windsor Police Arrest Warrant Affidavit
detailing the facts surrounding the Accused’s DUI arrest in their town on January 01, 2019.
According to the affidavit, the Accused rear ended another vehicle that was stopped at a red light
and it was determined that “the nature of this collision is consistent with the operator who may have
been unconscious in the driver’s seat or purposely striking another vehicle in a suicide attempt”. He
was arrested for Assault 2nd, Reckless Endangerment, reckless driving, as well as DUI. During the
Windsor investigation the Accused’s father told Windsor investigators that his son was upset,
because his grandmother Frances, the owner of the vehicle, was verbally abusive to him. The
Accused responded by punching his TV and then driving. The damaged TV was in the backseat of
the car when it crashed. In addition to this incident, the Enfield Police Department has taken
complaints from persons who have been recently threatened by the Accused, including a friend of
Nicole’s, who on August 21, 2019, filed a complaint with EPD that two weeks ago he got a call from
the Accused threatening to slash his tires. The Accused’s former girlfriend, Nicole Mimitz has
provided information that the Accused had threatened her on Friday, August 16, 2019 that “you’re
going to pay for this” for breaking up with him that day. Nicole also believes the Accused is
responsible for stealing her car on August 17, 2019. When her car was found in Hartford his favorite
sweatshirt was in the back seat and the dash board was “stabbed up” and stickers about death were
stuck all over it. Angel Ward also reports her brother has a history, both as a child and an adult, of
killing animals.

16. That, on 08/29/19 at approximately 11:39hrs, Detectives Callaghan and Bailey went to 31
Southwood Rd. to provide Patrick Ward with his copy of the search warrant for his cell phone. After
providing Patrick with the copy of the warrant, they continued to have a conversation. Detective
Callaghan activated his audio recorder on his cell phone as he talked. Bailey asked him how the
Accused was and how he was doing. Patrick told him he was surprised the police never searched
his home. Bailey asked him if there was something there that we needed to know about and he said
no. Patrick said "I guess there was a weapon?". Bailey asked Patrick if he knew where "the
weapon" is. He said no and that he was surprised we didn't search the Accused 's room. Patrick
implied knowledge that the weapon used to kill his mother had not been recovered. This is
information only known to investigators and not released to or discussed with the public.
 Bailey then asked Patrick what the Accused has told him about what is going on. Patrick said
that they got the Accused a lawyer because he loves his son. He said the Accused appreciates the
lawyer and it is sad that the Accused is involved in something shitty. Patrick also said that if he knew
what was going to happen he would have taken the Accused to Florida. Bailey then also activated
his cell phone recorder. Bailey told Patrick that we knew he had hired the Accused an attorney and
that we were interested in speaking with him about what happened.
Bailey asked Patrick if the Accused had given him an explanation. At first Patrick maintained that
he had no conversation with his son about the incident. Patrick said that when he saw the Accused
he just told him that he was glad he was okay. Patrick said that he wished he had been there for the
Accused but he wasn't. When talking, Patrick got emotional at times and teared up. Patrick would
also ramble off on tangents about his mental health issues and abusive childhood at the hands of his
mother and father.
Patrick then said that the Accused would have to be severely mentally ill to do something like that
and "I guess it was bludgeoned?" Bailey told Patrick there must have been some type of
conversation between him and the Accused when he saw him after all the things that were
happening. Patrick said that when he saw him lying in the bed, he hugged him and told him he
loved him and to stay strong. He said the Accused told him "I wish I could go back a week". Patrick
said that was about all Anthony told him.
Patrick then said he was sorry this happened and that the Accused wasn't developed enough,
and it was "No excuse. He's gonna pay for what he did". Based on Patrick's statements Bailey
believed the Accused may have told Patrick about what happened between him and Frances. Bailey
told Patrick that we were looking for an explanation as to why things happened, and that there could
be a bunch of reasons. Patrick told Bailey that the Accused didn't do it for money. He said the
Accused had money and access to money. Patrick then said, "here is what happened if I had to
take a guess" and he was sure that he was right as can be. Patrick said the Accused was distraught
because Nicole broke up with him. He said the Accused was also distraught over a failed marriage.
He said his mother picked the Accused up from the hospital and his daughter Angel had texted her
not to do that. Patrick said that the Accused and Frances together was a bad situation and he tried
to keep them apart. Not because he was worried about the Accused hurting her but because he
was worried about Frances abusing him mentally. Bailey asked Patrick what he thought happened
at her house. Patrick said he could only speculate and said the Accused didn't want to go to the
house because once he is trapped there with Frances, she is vicious with her mouth. He said he
thinks Frances abused him so much to the point that he was in a fragile state. Patrick then said "I
don't know what happened, I don't even know if he is guilty of anything. I am thinking he probably is,
only because of everything that is going on." Patrick went on to say he thought his mother was
vicious to the Accused at the wrong time.
He went on to reiterate he didn't think things happened for money but felt the Accused lost his
mind. Bailey then told Patrick it would be nice to talk with the Accused to find out if that was the
case. Bailey suggested Patrick talk with the Accused and the Accused 's attorney about having the
Accused speak with us. Patrick then provided him with the name of the Accused 's Attorney, Maxwell
out of Glastonbury. Patrick said his attorney is not looking to protect a guilty man. He said "(The
Accused's) going to prison. I know that. For a long time." Bailey told Patrick that we were just
looking for the whole story. Patrick said that "basically, that's what it is", the Accused went there and
Frances wouldn't stop.
Bailey then told Patrick that it sounds like he had a conversation with the Accused about what
happened. Patrick then said, “I did ask him this, “did you take her rings off her fingers and he said no
Dad”. Patrick stated that he just needed to know it wasn’t about that. Patrick then went on to explain
that Frances has illegal door locks and that you can’t get out without a key and she had him trapped
in there. Bailey asked if the Accused told him that and he said no but she locks that door when you
come in, she locks you in.
Patrick went on to say that Frances picked the Accused up from the hospital that morning. Patrick
said to Bailey “What was she thinking he was going to watch cable with her or something? No, he
was going to go find something for his pain”. Patrick said, “I did ask him this, I think he went for her
keys.” She didn’t want him to get hurt. He explained that the Accused crashed her last car and got
hurt. She probably went after him physically. Patrick said he was hoping she fell down the stairs or
something but apparently that wasn’t it. Patrick said he just wanted to know if it was about money
because killing for money would be disgusting.
Patrick then admitted that he did have a conversation with the Accused at the hospital when he
first got there, before his attorney arrived. Patrick asked the Accused if he took the rings off her
fingers. The Accused then told Patrick “No dad I didn’t do that”. The Accused told Patrick it was
nothing like that and that he didn’t take anything. The Accused told him “it wasn’t about that, she
wouldn’t shut her mouth and I begged her to stop and let me out”. Patrick said Frances had him
trapped and it was a bad situation and she pushed him too far. The Accused told Patrick it was like a
dream. Patrick asked the Accused if he regretted what he did, and he said he wished he could go
back a week and he wished he hadn’t been trapped. Bailey asked if the Accused told Patrick what
he used or where he went after and Patrick said he didn’t ask because he doesn’t want to know.
Patrick said almost nothing was said after the things he already told Bailey, except that the Accused
seemed relieved when he knew Grandma Fran was gone because now no one else would be
abused. Patrick stated that he wanted Bailey to know that they (he and the attorney) are not looking
to excuse the Accused’s behavior. He knows the Accused is going to jail and they aren’t looking for
him to walk for this.

17. That, this investigation has failed to produce evidence that Frances Battagler has been seen
alive since Sunday, August 18, 2019, when she is with her Grandson the Accused at Big Y. I was
able to determine that Frances did not show for an ear doctor appointment on Monday August 19,
2019 at 11:00 am, despite being reliable to make appointments or call as stated by office staff. She
never returned the doctor office calls for her to reschedule. An inquiry of her Bank of America
checking account shows the last activity to be the check written at Big Y. I interviewed the Journal
Inquirer delivery driver for the Victim’s street, who stated that she had started to become concerned
Tuesday morning August 20, 2019 upon realizing the Victim had not retrieved her newspaper in
three days. According to the driver this is out of the Victim’s routine which includes reading her paper
every day. Groceries that had been purchased on August 18, 2019 by the Victim and the Accused
had never been put away, remaining in the grocery bag on the kitchen floor and on the counter, the
perishables spoiling. It is known that at 1421 hours, on August 18, 2019, the Accused is offering the
victim’s car for sale. He is then out of communication with his family and girlfriend until sending a
letter indicating that he is distraught and ending his life, post marked Monday August 19, 2019.
Additionally, the Accused had a court date for Monday August 19, 2019. It was confirmed that he
failed to appear without explanation despite having made seven other court dates.

18. That, based on the aforementioned facts and circumstances, the Affiant has Probable Cause to
believe that the Accused, Anthony Ward, DOB 02/10/1984, did commit the crime of Murder in
violation of CGS 53a-54a, on August 18, 2019. I respectfully request that an arrest warrant be
issued.