BY ANDREAS YILMA
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
NAUGATUCK — Exactly six months after the murder of 11-month old Camilla Francisquini, borough police honored her with a tree planting outside their headquarters.
Members of the Naugatuck Police Department can be seen next to a tree planted in front of police headquarters in honor of baby Camilla, who was murdered last November.
The baby’s father, Christopher Francisquini was accused of stabbing and dismembering Camilla on Nov. 18 in the Millville Street home he shared with his father. Francisquini fled the scene which resulted in a massive manhunt.
He was eventually caught two weeks later at a bus stop in front of Metro-North train station in downtown Waterbury, a day before Camilla would have celebrated her first birthday. He remains behind bars on a $5 million bond and is awaiting a plea with his next scheduled court appearance on June 1.
On May 18, members of the Naugatuck Police Department — along with borough EMS and family of Camilla —gathered in front of the police headquarters on Spring Street to honor Camilla’s memory. A chaplain led a private memorial ceremony Naugatuck Police Department — along with borough EMS and family of Camilla —gathered in front of the police headquarters on Spring Street to honor Camilla’s memory. A chaplain led a private memorial ceremony where a dogwood tree was planted. The Home Depot of Waterbury donated and planted the tree.
At the bottom of the tree, there is a rock with the quote “Your memory will forever BLOOM, Camilla Skye 12/3/21 – 11/18/22.”
Police Chief Colin McAllister said the thought behind this was done by borough police officers and some dispatchers as the case had a profound affect all of the police staff and was one of the most horrific cases in the department’s history.
“To have such a young child taken and murdered and the circumstances, it’s left a deep mark on the department, on all of our staff,” McAllister said. “Again, not just the officers and the detectives but all of our staff professional and sworn and that tree will signify the mark that baby Camilla has left on our staff and that we want to honor her memory, want to remember her for who she was, who she could’ve been before her life was tragically taken far too soon.”
Police staff were honored that Camilla’s family was able to attend the ceremony as it humbled police members, McAllister said
“We empathize with Camilla’s family, we understand their loss,” McAllister said. “We understand the impact that this has had not just on them but also the community and the department and that we really want them to understand that words can’t express our sorrow that we feel for them but we hope that this is a gesture to show that we still support them and we stand behind insuring that baby Camilla has justice.”
McAllister said the ttree will serve as a reminder for Camilla’s loss and as the tree grows, it’ll also grow in its importance and allow the borough to honor her memory. The tree will continue to grow and it will be there for much of the staff whose careers continue to grow.
“It signifies the mark that baby Camilla has left on everybody,” McAllister said.
