Conn. lawmaker reinstated to leadership post after being cleared in freezing death of woman

Conn. lawmaker reinstated to leadership post

HARTFORD, Conn. — A Connecticut legislator has been reinstated to his leadership post after a state prosecutor determined there was insufficient evidence to charge him in connection with the January freezing death of a Rocky Hill woman.

Cromwell Rep. James O’Rourke had been suspended by Connecticut House Speaker Christopher Donovan from his post as a deputy speaker after it became public that police were seeking to charge O’Rourke with a misdemeanor.

Donovan says now that the matter has been fully investigated, he believes O’Rourke can devote his full attention to the position.

O’Rourke was one of the last people to see Carol Sinisgalli alive. He told police she had jumped into his car in the parking lot of a Cromwell tavern, became belligerent and later jumped out in the snow.