homicide

Man Killed Woman, Attacked Her 11-Year-Old Son After Argument Over Relationship: Police

A man accused of killing a Waterbury woman and attacking her 11-year-old son over an argument about their relationship appeared in court Wednesday.

Waterbury police said 49-year-old Christopher Iverson has been charged with murder in the death of 48-year-old Solita Billups. Investigators believe Iverson and Billups were arguing about their relationship while in Billups’ home on White Rose Avenue when the dispute turned violent.

“Billups and Iverson were involved in a personal relationship. The investigation did reveal there were issues with that relationship," said Waterbury Police Acting Chief Fernando Spagnolo.

Officers were called to the home at 7:45 a.m. Tuesday and found Billups dead. Billups' 11-year-old son was also in the home at the time.

Spagnolo said it appears Iverson also went after the child. The boy was taken to the hospital to be treated for head trauma.

Court paperwork states the boy told police he woke up to the suspect stabbing his mother on the floor of his room. He said when he tried to help her, he heard his mother asking the suspect why he was doing this to her, and that the suspect responded “because I hate you.” The documents go on to describe the son forced to sit in a chair while the suspect allegedly tied him up and hit him in the back of the heat.

“We have an eyewitness, we have a statement by the defendant. we have the murder weapon. he took police to the location where he left the murder weapon. we have forensic evidence, we have video surveillance evidence. we have motive,” said state prosecutor Cynthia Serafini in court. “It doesn't get any stronger unless we had video of actually committing the murder.”

There were also two arson attempts inside the home, according to police.

Police said when they spoke with Iverson, he admitted to previously having a sexual relationship with Billups and said she’d threatened to tell his son. He told officers that Billups was the aggressor and that she grabbed a kitchen knife, stabbed herself and then was accidentally stabbed when the pair struggled and wound up on the floor.

The suspect’s sister said Solita was like a sister and that the families had known each other for years.

“I don't know they been friends for a long time. if it's a freak accident or whatever they know each other for 13 years,” Melody Harrison said.

The victim’s family members did not want to talk, but neighbors told NBC Connecticut Billups was a good person and great mother.

Billups worked for the Waterbury Board of Education as an administrative assistant. The district released the following statement:

“We were informed today that Solita Billups, administrative assistant, passed away today. Our thoughts and prayers go out to family, friends and colleagues as we mourn the loss of a dearly loved friend and employee.”

Iverson is charged with murder, attempted murder, home invasion, first-degree arson, and risk of injury to a minor. He is being held on a $7 million bond and his case has been continued until Sept. 12.

A protective order was issued for the minor and Iverson is on suicide watch.

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