Milford Native To Spend Life In Prison After Murder Conviction

Former Milford resident, Gregory Veres, 31, will spend the rest of his life behind bars for fatally running over his then girlfriend, Dawn Marie Meade, 40, a Fairfield native, while in Virginia in 2017, according to officials.

Authorities said Veres was driving 60 mph at the time when he ran Meade over with his grandmother's car and then fled the scene. Meade, 40, who was residing in Norwalk at the time of her death, was found dead by a neighbor on the morning of Sept. 22, 2017 in Virginia after a hit-and-run. Veres had been arguing with Meade over a restraining order before she separated from him and walked home, prosecutors said during the trial.

"The defendant hunted her down and drove all four wheels of his grandmother's car off the road and struck the victim going 60 mph," according to a news release. "The defendant struck her so hard the car's grill left an imprint on her leg. The defendant took the stand and testified it was an accident and suggested that he was too drunk to know what he was doing."

Veres was no stranger to law enforcement in Connecticut. According to search of the Connecticut's criminal database, he was arrested in Derby for interfering with an officer and pleaded guilty in 2015. He was charged with reckless driving in Milford and Orange too, also pleading guilty. He was sentenced in 2012 for possession of narcotics while in Milford. He was also arrested in Waterbury on a larceny charge.

According to Meade's obituary, she was a Norwalk resident at the time of her death and was a graduate of Fairfield Warde High School.

"She was a daughter, mother and beloved sister. Dawn had a contagious laugh that could turn any frown. She loved acting silly with her friends and family, but mostly enjoyed spreading joy and warmth wherever she went," according to her obituary posted by the Larson Funeral Home.