Son Charged With Killing Parents In Connecticut Faces Judge

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The son of a Connecticut couple whose remains were found months after they vanished has made his first court appearance on two murder counts.

Kyle Navin, who was already in federal custody on a weapons charge, was formally charged with murder on Tuesday and ordered held in lieu of $2.5 million bond.

Navin seemed emotionless during the short court appearance, WCBS 880's Paul Murnane reported. His lawyer, Eugene Riccio, says the hearing was "just the start of a long judicial process.''

"And I think experience has taught all of us that we have to reserve our judgment about these situations 'till all of the facts are known," Riccio said.

Navin's girlfriend, 31-year old Jennifer Valiante of Westport, was in court Monday. She is charged with conspiring to kill Navin's parents and hindering prosecution.

Jeanette and Jeffrey Navin of Easton disappeared in August. Their remains were found last week outside a vacant house in neighboring Weston.

Court documents indicate Jeanette Navin had told a friend that she and her husband planned to sell their trash-hauling business and cut their son out of their will.

Jaenette Navin was upset about her son's behavior and drug use, and his failure to pay the mortgage and taxes on the home they bought him, according to the arrest warrant for Valiante.

During the September search of Kyle Navin's home, Jeffrey Navin's blood was found near where police discovered an 11-by-7 piece of carpet missing from the basement floor, according to court documents.

A tiny amount of Jeanette Navin's blood was found in her son's truck near a bullet hole in the passenger-side seat belt, according to the affidavit.

The month before his parents disappeared, Kyle Navin texted Valiante saying he had the "perfect plan'' to get "$ for life,'' according to the warrant. Navin wrote that the plan would "solve every single problem and give us a wealthy amazing life.''

Navin and Valiante talked about what they would do with the money, police said. Valiante texted, "That'll allow us to stay in our house and pay for a full top-line remodel and a new garage,'' according to the warrant.

Valiante's attorney, Elliot Warren, said the texts have been "taken out of context,'' and Valiante would deny talking with or texting to Kyle Navin about killing his parents and taking their money.

Jeffrey Navin was president of J&J Refuse in Westport. Jeannette Navin was a school library aide in Weston.

Kyle Navin is due back in court on Nov. 24.

As CBS2's Lou Young reported, new details revealed in court suggested a history of drugs may have played a role in tearing the family apart.

It all started when a young Kyle was injured in a hockey game.

The accused killer who stood in a Bridgeport courtroom on Tuesday, was a far cry from the fresh faced hockey player that he was when he began his descent into pain pills and heroin use.

Recovering addicts told CBS2 that the crimes he's accused of are gruesome, but within the realm of their understanding.

"It seems crazy. When you're in the mind set that you need something and you're that sick, I believe it's possible," Robert K said.

"The disease will make you do things that you thought you'd never be able to do in your life," Sean S added.

Both Navin and his girlfriend have been identified as serious heroin addicts, just part of the rising epidemic that is filling rehab centers like St. Christopher's Inn in Garrison, New York.

Two clients at St. Christopher's who spoke with CBS2's Young were once athletes who, like Navin, started out with pain pills after a sports injury.

"I broke my foot and was prescribed Vicodin," Robert K said.

"I tore my meniscus and that's when I got my first taste of pain medication," Sean S recalled.

"These are middle class, upper middle class kids who come from damn good homes. It's unbelievable," Fr. Bill Dribach, President, St. Chrisopher's Inn, said.

Half the rehab cases at St. Christopher's involve heroin or opiate pills. There are 180 residents, 800 clients, and an annual death toll that will break your heart.

"In the last calendar year we lost 22 people to overdose deaths," David Gerber, Director, St. Christopher's Place said.

Looking west to Connecticut they see there is sometimes something even worse than that possible on this dark road.

Kyle Navin suffers from a back injury. Police recovered empty oxycodone pills and empty heroin bags in his home.

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