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911 Calls, Video Released In Cheshire Home Invasion

NEW YORK (CBS 2/1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- Chilling new evidence was released Wednesday from the home invasion and triple murder that shocked the tri-state area.

A mother is seen on bank surveillance video as her alleged killers waited.

It was the last time anyone saw her alive.

CBS 2's Dave Carlin reports on the 9-1-1 calls that came too late.

The bank video shows Jennifer Hawke-Petit in the desperate last minutes of her life.

As she withdraws money she tells the teller it is for men holding her husband and two daughters hostage inside their Cheshire, Conn., home.

LISTEN: Neighbor Calls 911

LISTEN: Bank Teller Calls 911

Seconds after the panicked mother leaves the bank, manager Mary Lyons called 9-1-1.

Lyons: "We have a lady who is in our bank right now, who says that her husband and children are being held at their house."

"The people are in a car outside the bank. She is getting $15,000 to bring out to them. If the police are told they will kill her children and the husband.

"She says they are being very nice. They have their faces covered. She is petrified. They told her they wouldn't hurt anybody if she got back there with the money. She believes them." 

Police encountered the suspects outside the Petit's burning home 33 minutes later. Mrs. Petit had been raped and strangled and daughters Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11, were found tied to their beds dead of smoke inhalation. Dr. William Petit, severely beaten and bound, had managed to escape to the home of neighbor Dave Simcik, who called 9-1-1.

Simcik: "I got Bill Petit here who's hurt - my neighbor."

911 operator: "He's at your house?"

Simcik: "Yes, he's right here."

911 operator : "Okay, what's wrong with him? What's going on sir?"

A police officer on the scene then grabbed the phone.

Officer: "You two, get in the house. Get in the house. Need the 101 here now, now! Head injury."

At the murder trial questions centered around why the police took so long before going in to rescue the family. An officer testified they were following hostage protocol, unaware the family was being brutalized.

The murder suspects, Steven Hayes and Joshua Komisarjevsky wanted to plead guilty in exchange for life sentences, but Dr. Petit refused to deal. Hayes, who is currently on trial, and Komisarjevsky are charged with murder, sexual assault and other crimes.

Dr. Petit is now one of Connecticut's strongest advocates to keep the death penalty.

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