WH Carjacking Defendant Also Charged In Apartment Trashing Case

VERNON/WEST HARTFORD, CT — One of two people charged in connection with an armed carjacking in West Hartford this week has also been charged with a felony in a Vernon apartment-trashing incident following an eviction notice, authorities said.

Vernon police confirmed she has been charged in both cases.

Ashley Antonetti, whose listed address is now in East Hartford, was identified in a warrant as a former resident of a rental home in the Rockville section of Vernon who has been charged with first-degree damage to a landlord's property, a Class D felony in Connecticut. A second arrest is pending in the case, police said.

Antonetti's Vernon case dates back to Nov. 16. The landlord told police he had visited an apartment at the address for the first time since evicting Antonetti and another person and discovered extensive damage to the inside, according to a warrant. Multiple foot- and fist-size holes were on the walls in each room, the refrigerator was dented and it appeared an attempt was made to pull the kitchen sink out of a countertop, according to a warrant.

Doors were ripped off hinges, windows were broken or missing and hardwood and carpeted floors were scuffed and stained "beyond repairs or cleaning," according to a warrant.

Repairs were estimated at $9,280.06, according to a warrant.

Antonetti posted a $20,000 bond in the Vernon case and is due in court on March 29, records show.

In Connection with the West Hartford carjacking, Antonetti was arrested Tuesday and charged with conspiracy to commit robbery in the first degree, third-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny in the third degree. Antonetti's case was assigned a $150,000 surety bond.

Gregory O. Ortiz, 29, of New Britain, was also arrested Tuesday and charged with first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery in the first degree, third-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit larceny in the third degree and carrying a pistol without a permit. Ortiz's case was assigned a $250,000 surety bond and he was to appear in Hartford Superior Court Wednesday.

Both vehicles in this incident have been recovered and the West Hartford Police Detective Division continues to investigate the case.

Tuesday's carjacking in West Hartford appears to be an organized setup, police said. The incident took place at 12:34 p.m. in the parking lot of 108 Oakwood Ave., police said.

A 42-year-old man had arrived there after arranging to sell his vehicle to a potential buyer, police said. As he was waiting for the potential buyer, a silver BMW pulled into the lot, police said. The man then noticed a "distressed motorist" in the parking lot and was simultaneously approached by one of the occupants of the BMW, who displayed a handgun and stole the his keys, police said.

The occupants of the BMW, including the "distressed motorist," then left the parking lot with the victim's vehicle and the silver BMW, police said.

It appears as if the "distressed motorist" acted as a distraction, police said.
The victim did not report any injuries.

A short time after the incident, the victim's vehicle was located occupied in Manchester and the two arrests were made, police said.