Willimantic Man Charged in 2012 Chaplin Murder
Matthew Vining, a 43-year-old Willimantic man, has been charged with the 2012 murder of Michael Mitchell in Chaplin, Connecticut. Mitchell was reportedly stabbed at a home on Mount Laurel Lane. Investigators utilized DNA analysis, video surveillance, cell phone data, and…
Hartford & New Haven, CT, August 20, 2026 —
Chaplin, CT – Authorities have arrested Matthew Vining, a 43-year-old resident of Willimantic, in connection with the 2012 murder of Michael Mitchell. The incident, which occurred in Chaplin, Connecticut, involved a stabbing at a residence on Mount Laurel Lane.
The investigation into Michael Mitchell’s death spanned over a decade, with investigators employing a range of modern forensic and data analysis techniques to identify a suspect. According to investigators, key evidence included DNA analysis, video surveillance footage, cell phone data, and accounts from eyewitnesses.
These combined investigative efforts reportedly led to the identification of Vining as the individual charged in connection with the 2012 homicide. Further details regarding the sequence of events leading to the stabbing, or the specific relationship between Vining and Mitchell, were not immediately available. The arrest marks a significant development in a case that remained open for many years.
Story summarized from the original created by Rob Polansky on www.wfsb.com, see more information here.