Former Connecticut Planned Parenthood staffer Tim Yergeau, who once served as the strategic communications director for the organization’s Southern New England branch, took his own life just five days after authorities mistakenly raided his neighbor’s apartment in connection to a child pornography investigation.
Yergeau’s death occurred after the Special Victims Unit (SVU) of the New Haven Police Department (NHPD) broke down the door of his neighbor’s apartment, handcuffed her, and then realized they had targeted the wrong residence. The blunder was allegedly recognized when police noticed the woman’s young child’s toys strewn about the apartment. The traumatized neighbor, Stacey Wezenter, has since filed a complaint with the NHPD.
Former Planned Parenthood employee Tim Yergeau commits suicide 5 days after police raided his home in connection with a child pornography investigation
He was previously the strategic communications director for the Southern New England branch of @PPFAhttps://t.co/bYrgV3qBMN
— 🇺🇸🎯 (@KaraKryptonite) April 16, 2023
New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson confirmed Yergeau’s involvement in the criminal investigation, stating, “The person who died was definitely the suspect in a child pornography investigation and the person who committed suicide.” However, police have not released the specific warrant and charges against Yergeau or revealed what they found in his apartment after searching it.
Chief Jacobson has requested an internal affairs investigation into the mishandled raid and Yergeau’s subsequent suicide. He expressed regret for the situation, saying, “Unfortunately, a mistake was made. We feel for the woman and we’re going to do everything we can to make it right.”
During Yergeau’s tenure at Planned Parenthood, he had been involved in a letter-writing and art workshop with the Arts Council of Greater New Haven, where he penned 247 “love letters” to abortion. After leaving the organization, he took on the role of communications director at Long Wharf Theatre in August 2022.
Yergeau’s untimely death brings attention to the need for accountability and improvement within the NHPD and the fact that individuals involved in abhorrent criminal activities can be found in positions of power or influence within various organizations.
In the wake of the incident, law enforcement and the community must prioritize understanding how and why the raid went awry to prevent future mistakes. As Wezenter noted, the situation could have been even more tragic, with potential consequences such as injury or death for innocent bystanders. She told the New Haven Registrar, “What if I had a gun permit? What if I came down the hallway with a gun? Would I have gotten shot? What if my 4-year-old had woken up? Would they have shot him? You just don’t do that to people.”
As the investigation unfolds, the police and the public must remain vigilant in ensuring transparency, accuracy, and justice. While the tragic events cannot be undone, it is essential to learn from these mistakes and work towards preventing such incidents in the future.
