In January of 2020, Troopers from Troop D - Danielson responded to an address in Canterbury for a report of a home invasion. The reporting party was a resident of the home and explained he had been assaulted by the suspect. Troopers quickly arrived on scene and observed that the victim was struck in the head by a rock and required further treatment. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital while Troopers investigated at the residence.
With the assistance of the Eastern District Major Crimes Squad, Troopers and Detectives on scene took numerous DNA swabs as part of the investigation. A men's baseball hat, and numerous beer cans located nearby were part of the items swabbed for DNA. Initially, there were no confirmed matches from the DNA. The case was temporarily suspended in May of 2020.
In August of 2023, Troopers were notified by the DESPP Forensic Laboratory of a positive match from the previously recovered DNA. The match was to Sonny Barber (DOB 11/29/1989), who was a resident of Plainfield in 2020, and is currently in the custody of the Department of Correction. A search and seizure warrant was drafted and submitted to Danielson Superior Court for Barber's DNA, to compare with the DNA obtained through the DNA on scene.
Based on the investigate steps, Troopers submitted an arrest warrant application for Barber to Danielson Superior Court which was signed and approved by the Honorable Judge Green.
On 02/10/2025, Barber was located at Danielson Superior Court for an unrelated court appearance. Barber was served the arrest warrant and charged with the following:
C.G.S. 53a-100aa - Home Invasion
C.G.S. 53a-60 - Assault in the Second Degree
Barber was held on a court-set $100,000 bond and turned back over to the Department of Correction for same day arraignment at Danielson Superior Court.
Please see attached criminal information summary and arrest warrant application.
