Man accused of killing his mother heads to court

Southington, Conn. (WTNH) - Investigators are trying to determine what would prompt a New Britain man to allegedly kill his own mother.

The suspect, James D'Aquila will make his next court appearance on Thursday; one week from the day his 64-year-old mother Donna D'Aquila was found dead in her Southington trailer.

Police said on February 9th James D'Aquila killed his mother, stole her car and then returned to his home in New Britain.

News of the violent crime shocked residents of the normally quiet trailer park in which she lived.

"I'm very shocked," said Maureen Horne. "I was shocked when they told me what happened, cause I feel very safe here."

"We felt bad, but there's not much we can do about it," said Claude Boutote. "All the cops going around. I didn't know, they call it murder, I didn't know it was murder."

The 34-year-old D'Aquila has a criminal record, and his public defender and court records indicate he takes medicine for Schizophrenia.

Bail has been set and $1.5 million for D'Aquila. A judge has ordered a mental competency examination as well.