Man To Be Charged With New Haven Murder

NEW HAVEN, CT — Police have obtained an arrest warrant that charges John Henry Smith Jr., 58, with the murder of Sherri Ruffin, 52.

Ruffin was found dead in her Jennings Way residence in the West Rock neighborhood on May 4, 2017.

Smith is currently incarcerated at Osborn Correctional Institute on unrelated charges of carrying or sale of a dangerous weapon, according to state prison records. He was due to be released no later than April 8 and has been in prison since May 2017.

The warrant charges him with felony murder and first-degree strangulation. Bond is set at $3 million.

"Now retired, New Haven Police Detective Chris Perrone and the NHPD Homicide Unit worked this case continuously over the past two years. Detective Manuella Vensel completed the arrest warrant and submitted it to the court," said Capt. Anthony Duff, police spokesman. "Forensic Detective Omaida Nieves and fellow members of the NHPD Bureau of Identification worked extremely hard collecting and processing vital evidence in this investigation."