Community Corner

Police: Mehovic Threatened His Family on Several Occasions Prior to Murder-Suicide

Police said Monday that Saudina Mehovic had contacted police on multiple occasions regarding threats made by Nurija Mehovic.

Nurija Mehovic and his 37-year-old ex-wife had a turbulent relationship that dated back to October 2009, including accusations that he had threatened her on several occasions before, police said, he killed her and then shot himself Saturday outside her West Street home.

Police on Monday released a time-line that included several complaints made by murder victim Saudina Mehovic, including accusations that Nurija Mehovic had threatened her on two occasions and drove by the home.

"There was certainly activity that occurred at the home prior to this, and we have continued to look into it in determining the exact cause for everything that happened,” said Southington police Sgt. Lowell DePalma on Monday. “We are still investigating where he got the weapon and whether it was registered or if he had a permit for it.”

Staff with the state’s Chief Medical Examiner’s office in Farmington confirmed that Saudina Mehovic died as a result of a gunshot wound to her abdomen as well as incised wounds to her neck, according to the autopsy report. Her death was ruled a homicide.

Nurija Mehovic, 48, died as a result of a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, staff with the medical examiner’s office said, and his death has been ruled a suicide. Although residents reported hearing two shots according to police, medical examiner staff indicated there was only one gunshot wound.

The bullet wounds suffered by each were fired from a Glock 9 mm gun that was recovered near Nurija Mehovic, police said. Mehovic had gone into a heavily wooded area behind the home and shot himself, police said.

Both were alive when officers arrived and later pronounced dead at the Hospital of Central Connecticut, Bradley Campus.

Despite a repeated pattern of domestic abuse prior to the incident, there were no previous indications of physical violence that occurred before the situation on Saturday, said police and friends of the two teenage boys.

“(The oldest son) told us his dad had anger issues, but he said he had never done anything violent and they hadn’t heard any threats before this happened,” said Eli Grenier, a friend of the 16-year-old son who was called just moments after it happened.

It started as something that was supposed to be a joyful day, Grenier said. Nurija Mehovic was supposed to take his sons to get passports so they could travel to Europe in July, but when he arrived, Saudina Mehovic asked to go with them and began to get into the car.

“He told me that his dad got out, went around to the passengers side and pulled her out by the hair then shot her,” Grenier said. “(The 16-year-old) attempted to stop his dad after that, but he said his dad shoved him back, hit him and then pulled out a knife and slashed his mom’s throat.”

As this was occurring, the 14-year-old boy ran to a neighbors house and began screaming for help, but disoriented from being hit, Grenier said the oldest son was worried his brother was out back where his dad had gone.

“When I first talked to him, he said he didn’t know where his brother was and was worried he may be dead too,” he said. “It left him in a state of shock the rest of the day.”

Saudina Mehovic’s attorney, Theodore J. Wurz of Plainville, said in a Record-Journal report released late Sunday evening that his client had placed the restraining orders against her ex-husband because he showed “controlling jealousy” but had them removed so he could see his sons.

The boys are now staying with relatives in Plainville.

Police said they would release more information regarding the gun used in the incident as it becomes available.

Time-line of Police and Court Activity at 47 West St. (Source: Southington Police Department and Connecticut Judicial Branch).

  • March, 2007 - The Mehovic family is known to be living at 47 West St., the scene of Saturday’s murder suicide.
  • Oct. 28, 2009 - Saudina Mehovic files a complaint with officers regarding a domestic violence incident made complaint to SPD about domestic incident and states that her husband, Nurija Mehovic, threatened her. Both sons were interviewed but neither claimed to have witnessed incident or to have overheard any specific threats and police found no evidence of physical violence or probable cause to make an arrest. Saudina declined to leave a statement.
  • Oct. 30, 2009 – New Britain Superior Court issues ex-parte restraining order effective through Nov. 12, 2009, against Nurija Mehovic.
  • Oct. 31, 2009 – Southington police, in partnership with state judicial marshals, serve a restraining order on Nurija Mehovic. A search of the home finds no firearms or other weapons at 47 West St. and Mehovic is ordered to leave the residence. 
  • April 11, 2010 – Saudina Mehovic calls police to report that Nurija Mehovic had been driving by the house at 47 West St., but did not stop on the property. She further reiterates that there is a restraining order in place against him. Officers were unable to locate Nurija Mehovic and no contact was made with him.
  • May 5, 2010 – Saudina Mehovic stops at Southington Police Headquarters, 69 Lazy Lane, to file a complaint against Nurija Mehovic, saying there is a restraining order in place as they are attempting to complete a divorce. She tells officers he had called the house and threatened both her and her children. Detectives apply for an arrest warrant.
  • May 9, 2010 – Officers arrest Nurija Mehovic on one count of violation of a restraining order as a result of the May 5 complaint. Mehovic was released after posting the court-ordered bond of $5,000 and given a court date of the following day, but court records showed no conviction in the case. Court officials were unable to say Monday whether he had applied for accelerated rehabilitation, which would have wiped the charge from his record.
  • May 10, 2010 – A Bristol Superior Court judge issues a protective order against Mehovic during his arraignment requiring he has no contact with Saudina Mehovic and does not visit the residence. Saudina Mehovic agrees later to waive the order to allow him to see his children.
  • June 11, 2011 – Police receive multiple reports of shots fired around 10:30 a.m. at 47 West St. Upon arriving, Saudina Mehovic is found lying in the driveway with a gunshot wound to her side and stab wounds in the neck. Nurija Mehovic is later found in the woods suffering from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Both later died at the Hospital of Central Connecticut, Bradley Campus, as a result of the injuries. No protective orders or restraining orders were in effect on the day of the shooting, police said.


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