'Things just got out of control,' Connecticut murder suspect told cops

CNN Wire Staff

New Haven, Connecticut (CNN) - One of the men accused of killing the wife and children of a Connecticut doctor in a 2007 home invasion told police, "Things just got out of control," his arresting officer testified Wednesday.

Detective Joseph Vitello said Steven Hayes was arrested fleeing from the burning home of Dr. William Petit, whose wife and two daughters were found dead inside shortly afterward.

Jurors were visibly stunned when shown pictures of the victims' burned remains Wednesday, with at least one weeping in court.

Vitello said Hayes and co-defendant Joshua Komisarjevsky were trying to escape in the Petits' car when they collided with two police cars and were forced to a stop. He said he cuffed Hayes, took away a pellet gun built to resemble a 9 mm pistol and asked Hayes what happened to the Petit family.

Hayes responded, "I don't know. ... Things just got out of control," Vitello testified.

Full story