A man was shot before his assailant apparently staged a car accident
On June 13, 2009, Tremaine “Twin” Newton of Bridgeport, Connecticut was found dead in his Chrysler Concorde on the side of a highway in West Haven – about 20 miles up the Connecticut coast on Interstate 95.
State police from nearby Troop G barracks and local first responders found what appeared to be a routine – albeit macabre – scene, around 11:30 PM that June night. A car had crashed near the on-ramp of Exit 42 on I-95 North. Dead inside was one African-American male: Tremaine Newton. He was only 20-years-old.
Investigators with the Connecticut State Police said Newton’s car appeared to have rolled down an embankment where it crashed within some foliage that covered the car.
The only problem with this scene as an accident? Tremaine Newton was dead from multiple gunshot wounds to the back of his head, according to an autopsy conducted by the local medical examiner. In short: Newton’s injuries were not at all consistent with a car crash.
The state said crime scene (and car accident) reconstruction showed that Newton had been shot in his car in a nearby commuter parking lot. The Concorde was then pushed down the embankment and into the foliage which covered it.
It was clear, West Haven, Connecticut had a murder under very suspicious circumstances on its busy thoroughfare.
Whoever murdered Tremaine Newton did a horrible job at staging the scene to look like an accident. Nevertheless, the unknown suspect got extremely lucky as leads were exhausted and any evidence that did exist lost its punch with time. The case has been cold for an astonishing 12 years.
If you have any information about this crime, investigators ask that you contact Connecticut State Police Troop G at Bridgeport. They can be reached 203-696-2500 or 800-575-6330. The Cold Case Unit has a tip line at 860-548-0606 (toll-free: 1-866-623-8058).
You can also email the Cold Case Unit at cold.case@ct.gov.