DNA Leads to North Branford Detective Solving Burglaries

An arrest in two burglaries committed on Oct. 13, 2010 was made today, Aug. 9, after DNA evidence came back. The burglarized homes were within a mile of each other and were entered by similar means of crashing through an exterior door. In both cases, large amounts of jewelry were taken from jewelry boxes.

Detective Ron Onofrio processed the scenes, collecting, packaging and preserving evidence. A suspect was later interviewed in the case after being arrested for burglary in East Haven, but there was no evidence to tie him the North Branford Burglaries at that time. 

Onofrio then had the jewelry boxes in each burglary processed for trace DNA, which showed they had both been handled by the same person–Thomas Cushman, who was logged into the criminal database and identified. Cushman was in custody from the burglary charges in East Haven where he was arrested.

Cushman, 54, listed as 'homeless' with a last known address on Nevins Street in Enfield, was charged with two counts of third-degree burglary and first-degree larceny. He was held in custody of the State Marshals on a $10,000 court set bond after being arraigned.