Murder Suspect Relatives Suffer Vandalism

From: Hartford Courant, CT
Nov. 8, 2002

NEW MILFORD, Conn. -- When vandals trashed Kirk Dupas' yard three weeks ago, he knew why.

It was the same day that newspapers ran a story about his nephew's alleged role in the murder of 13-year-old Maryann Measles.

Deaneric Dupas was one of eight people arrested in connection with Measles' October 1997 kidnapping, rape and death and one of two suspects charged with murder.

The vandals ripped Kirk Dupas' mailbox out of the ground and threw it into the street. They did the same thing to his home-made name sign and to plants in his small garden. A few days later, they sprayed the house with paint balls. Vandals removed the light above their garage door and cut a wire to another light.

Dupas and his wife, Stella, said they don't even socialize with Deaneric's family.

Stella has cerebral palsy. It's difficult for her to walk and she can barely speak. Kirk has Meniere's disease, which impairs balance and causes dizziness. And both of them are legally deaf.

"They just saw the name and assumed we were Deaneric's parents or that all the Dupas are bad," said Dupas, 50, a deacon at the New Fairfield Congregational Church for more than 20 years.

Copyright © 2002 by The Hartford Courant