SEYMOUR, CT — Investigators determined that a Monroe woman intentionally took her own life and her son’s when she drove her SUV into the Housatonic River on Friday, July 31, 2020.
Connie Crowell, 54, and her son, Jack, 22, both succumbed to drowning.
In a press release issued Tuesday, Seymour Deputy Police Chief Roberto N. Rinaldi said, the investigation found the incident was a “homicide/suicide.”
“On the day of the incident, a boater who was in the area, observed the vehicle go into the water and went to assist and provide rescue efforts,” Rinaldi said. “However, Connie Crowell refused to acknowledge or accept the boater’s assistance and rescue efforts.”
Beloved by the community
Connie Crowell was well known in town for her efforts with Alcohol and Drug Awareness of Monroe (ADAM), working tirelessly to educate young people to make good decisions by staying sober.
In a previous Sun article, Superintendent of Schools Joseph Kobza said he worked closely with Crowell when he was principal of Masuk High School.
“She volunteered her time, pretty much my whole time at Masuk,” Kobza said. “If it wasn’t on ADAM, it was the Parents Council. She was one of the driving forces in coordinating our forum on underage drinking.”
Crowell introduced Kobza to the nonprofit organization, My Team Triumph, where runners push disabled people in wheelchairs in races like 5Ks, giving them the experience of a long distance race and the thrill of crossing the finish line.
Her son, Jack had special needs, and Kobza ran the Fairfield Sunset 5K with him. Kobza’s oldest daughter, Hailey, partnered with Jack, while playing Unified Sports together at Masuk.
Jack, who graduated from Masuk in 2017, also participated in town events like the annual Sprint for Monroe.
“Everybody loved Jack, I’m sure at all the schools, but especially at Masuk,” Kobza said. “He was always happy, always smiling. He just brightened up everyone’s days.”
