Community Corner

Sister of Petit's Late Wife Approves of Engagement

Cindy Hawke-Renn speaks kindly to the media of Petit's bride-to-be, Avon photographer Christine Paluf.

Days after news broke Jan. 4 about the lone Cheshire home invasion survivor's engagement to Avon photographer Christine Paluf, 34, the sister of Dr. William Petit Jr.'s late wife told People Magazine she approves.

As People Magazine reported, Cindy Hawke-Renn, 50, and her family met Paluf at Petit's 55th birthday dinner Sept. 23.

"Mom, Dad and I have said to him since early on, 'We want you to look for love again,' " Hawke-Renn told People. "We want you to be happy. We want you to find some happiness and joy. I just can't wait to dance at the wedding."

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At first it wasn't easy for Hawke-Renn's father, Rev. Richard Hawke that Petit was dating again, but when the couple went to church with him the next day, Hawke-Renn told People he gave Paluf his blessing.

The Hartford Courant reported Jan. 4 that the couple got engaged just after Christmas.

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"There's been a huge change in him," Hawke-Renn told The Courant, regarding Petit's demeanor since he started dating Paluf.

This news follows over a year of trials for Steven Hayes, 47, and Joshua Komisarjevsky, 30, the two men responsible for invading Petit's Cheshire home in 2007 and setting fire to it, as well as killing Petit's wife, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, 48, and their daughters, Michaela, 11 and Hayley, 17. Both men were found guilty and face the death penalty.


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