Murder Trial to Begin for Man Charged with Throwing Son, 7 Months, Off Bridge in Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Jury selection is expected to begin Tuesday in the murder trial of Middletown’s Tony Moreno, who has been charged with throwing his 7-month-old son off the Arrigoni Bridge and killing him in July 2015, according to the Hartford Courant.

The Courant reports Tony Moreno is expected to testify during the trial and he will not deny that he was responsible for Aaden Moreno’s death and his attorney will argue for the jury to consider lesser charges.

Moreno’s attorney, Norm Pattis, made the comments at a pre-trial hearing last week and also said that Moreno won’t use an insanity or emotional disturbance defense, according to the Courant.

Tony Moreno was charged with murder and murder with special circumstances for Aaden’s death and is being held on a $2 million bond.

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Shortly before midnight on July 5, 2015, Middletown Police received a 911 call that Tony Moreno was believed to be on the Arrigoni Bridge with his son. 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 they could reach him. Police said Moreno wasn’t holding Aaden at the time, but 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 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 officers' arrival on the bridge, police said in a press release at the time.

Read more about the pre-trial hearing at the Hartford Courant here.

File photo of Aaden Moreno

Also see:

• Boy, 7, Wanders Alone in Cold, Mother Arrested; Baby’s Death at Hospital Prompts Lawsuit; Big Bang Mystery: CT News