Middletown Man Charged with Killing 7-Month-Old Son Rejects Plea Deal: Report

MIDDLETOWN, CT — The Middletown man charged with throwing his 7-month-old son off a bridge and killing him last July has rejected a plea deal offered by prosecutors, according to FOX 61.

FOX 61 reports negotiations between Tony Moreno’s lawyer, Norm Pattis, and prosecutors broke down earlier this week and Pattis expects the case to go to trial in January.

• To sign up for Middletown breaking news alerts and more, click here.

Moreno, 21, was charged with murder and murder with special circumstances after police said he threw his 7-month-old son Aaden off the Arrigoni Bridge and then jumped himself. He is being held on a $2 million bond.

Pattis told FOX 61 that the state wants to settle the case on terms “we think are ridiculous. We're confident that a jury will not find Mr. Moreno guilty of murder and we'll take our chances at trial."

Shortly before midnight on Sunday July 5, 2015, Middletown Police received a 9-1-1 call that Tony Moreno was believed to be on the Arrigoni Bridge with his son, Aaden Moreno.

Tony Moreno made statements that he was going to jump off the bridge, police said at the time, and arriving officers observed Moreno on the southern sidewalk of the bridge.

Within moments of the officers’ arrival, Moreno jumped over the railing before officers could reach him. Police said Moreno wasn’t holding Aaden at the time he was seen jumping over the railing, however, an empty stroller was located in the immediate vicinity.

When Tony Moreno was pulled from the water by the Middletown Fire Department Marine Unit, he was unresponsive and was transported to Hartford Hospital via Life Star.

An immediate rescue effort was initiated by the Middletown Fire Department, with the assistance from the South Fire District, Portland Fire and Middletown Police Dive Team.

Aaden’s body was recovered from the river on July 7.

When Tony Moreno regained consciousness at Hartford Hospital, he was cooperative with Middletown Detectives and confirmed that he threw Aaden over the railing prior to the officer’s arrival on the bridge, police said in a press release at the time.

Pattis told FOX 61 that Moreno shouldn’t have been subjected to a custodial interview at that time and claims he was “browbeat” into discussing what happened.

Read more at FOX 61 here.