Milford Murder Trial of Alexandra Ducsay Begins 9 Years After Her Murder

Alexandra Ducsay, 26, who was murdered in her Milford home in 2006 was a lot more than a city resident who appeared on an episode of the popular and long-running ‘Law and Order’ television series.

She graduated magna cum laude from Albertus Magnus, spent her free-time helping others, and ran a charity called Xandra’s Kids, which brought holiday gifts to needy schoolchildren.

The murder trial of Matthew Pugh, 42, of Hamden began this week in Superior Court, Milford. Pugh is on trial for allegedly killing Ducsay.

During the first day of testimony a gruesome picture of the crime scene was laid out for jurors.

A Milford police detective testified that it was “probably the worst that I’ve ever seen,” reports the New Haven Register. When police arrived they found blood splatter on the radiator, on the wall, floor and even the ceiling, the Connecticut Post reports.

How did Ducsay and Pugh meet?

Duscay and Pugh met in a local bookstore and Alexandra was only 16 or 17 at the time her mother testified, while Pugh was much older.

Her mother, Linda, testified that her daughter was immediately ‘infatuated’ with Pugh and that he manipulated her during the whole relationship, the Post and Register report.

On one instance, Pugh stood Alexandra up for Jonathan Law High School’s Junior Class Prom, and Alexandra spent the whole night sitting at home in her dress waiting for Pugh, Linda testified.

Linda Ducsay testified that she “didn’t like him” concerning Pugh.

At one point Pugh was imprisoned for a narcotics violation. At first Alexandra visited him in prison, but over time she began to move away from Pugh finally, her family testified.

At one point, Pugh called the Ducsay household and Linda picked up and told him to leave her daughter alone, and Pugh allegedly shot back, “be careful what you say and do.”

Pugh already reportedly threatened Alexandra’s brother when he too told him that his sister was moving on.

A month before Alexandra’s murder, she told her brother that she was afraid of what Pugh might do to her, he testified.

Ducsay died from blunt force trauma and the suspected murder weapon is one of Alexndra’s trophies that went missing on the day of the murder, the Post reports.

Pugh was arrested and charged with the homicide back in 2012 and is being held on $2 million bond.

Read the full CT Post story here.

Read the full New Haven Register story here.

In 2012 , a detailed, 11-page report has been released by the State of Connecticut Superior Court outlining the six-year journey that led to Pugh’s arrest.

Here is a recap of a 2012 Milford Patch report, which was written by then Milford Patch Editor Ryan Sartor.

During Their Relationship

According to Linda Ducsay, Alexandra’s mother, Alexandra Ducsay and Matthew Pugh had been boyfriend and girlfriend for a considerable period of time starting when Alexandra was 16-years-old.

During their relationship, Matthew was sent to prison for an extended period of time. Alexandra and Matthew’s relationship ended while Matthew was in prison. The break-up was not amicable.

Linda told police that since their breakup, Matthew Pugh would regularly harass and threaten Alexandra.

‘I Will Make Your Life a Living Hell’

In a letter written from prison, Matthew Pugh threatened Alexandra, writing “Maybe you need to get your [expletive] kicked…you’re gonna regret you ever met me…I will make your life a living hell.”

Alexandra Pugh cited this and other letters in a written complaint filed dated January 23, 2004 with the CT DOC.

Matthew Pugh’s Cousin

Matthew Pugh’s cousin, Anthony Pugh, told the Milford Police Department on June 19th, 2008 that in 2005, Matthew talked about plans to kill Alexandra.

Anthony Pugh also said that Matthew told him that he (Matthew) used to sit outside of Alexandra’s house, watching to see where she was going and with whom, doing this at least once a week.

May 19th, 2006

In addition to DNA evidence linking Pugh to the Ducsay residence on the day of the murder, examination of the calls made by Pugh’s cell phone at 11:47 a.m. and 12:07 p.m. on May 19th indicate that Pugh’s cell phone was in the section of Milford that includes the victim’s residence during the time that Police believe she was murdered.

During questioning, Pugh told police that he was not in Milford at any time on May 19th, 2006.

Testimony by Pugh’s wife, Charise Pugh, and his stepdaughter, Chamira Trotman, conflict with Pugh’s alibis for the day of the murder.

September 5th, 2012

“It’s been a long and painful process,” said Matthew Ducsay, the 34-year-old brother of Alexandra Ducsay after Pugh was arraigned at Milford Superior Court on Wednesday.

Matthew Ducsay noted that his family has been in continuous touch with Police over these six years. “We never lost faith,” he said.

During a press conference Wednesday afternoon at the Milford Police Station, Milford Police Chief Keith L. Mello noted that this was the “start of a long process.”

“It’s been a very difficult time for the Ducsay family,” Chief Mello added. “I’m proud of our officers.”

Despite the fact that this investigation has been part of a ‘Cold Case’ unit, Chief Mello was quite adamant as he spoke of the hard work done by the Police over these six years, saying, “This case was never cold.”