Judge OK’s Release of Newtown Gunman’s Records

On Friday, Hartford Superior Judge Antonio Robaina granted the state Child Advocate’s request to obtain the educational records of Newtown gunman Adam Lanza.

Robaina ordered the Newtown school system to comply with the March 11, 2013, subpoena for the records. It had not complied with the request, which is when Attorney General George Jepsen’s office got involved and filed the subpoena on behalf of the Child Advocate’s office.

In January, the Child Advocate’s office, as part of the Child Fatality Review Panel, began its own investigation into the deaths of the 20 children killed during the Dec. 14 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. The panel customarily reviews the deaths of children in the state when they occur out-of-home or are unexplained.

As part of the investigation, under former Child Advocate Jamey Bell, the office subpoenaed the school records of Lanza. Lanza had earlier attended public schools in Newtown. Sarah Healy Eagan doesn’t take over as Child Advocate until Sept. 12.

The records sought included Lanza’s psychological reports and evaluations, report cards, attendance records, nursing reports and notes, social worker records, disciplinary records, education plans, and any communications with his family.

Mickey Kramer, the acting child advocate, said Friday that the office’s request was a standard part of the panel’s review.

“In any review we look at all records, it’s very common. In this particular case, the town really wanted a judge to order the release of the records and that’s what occurred today,” she said.

Kramer said she expects to receive the records within the next week.

Danbury State’s Attorney Stephen Sedensky said last month that a report on the investigation into the shooting will not be available until the fall. The investigation was expected to be released this summer, but the deadline continues to be pushed back. Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive for the shooting, which sparked sweeping legislation that changed gun laws, access to mental health services, and school security.