Police Nearby During Deadly Home Invasion

Jan. 24, 2008— -- A police officer who was near a Connecticut house where a woman and her two daughters were killed during a home invasion was apparently ordered not to approach the house for nearly 30 minutes while police set up a perimeter and called in a special response team, according to transcripts and a time log of police communication.

It appears that more than 25 minutes elapsed from the time officers were told not to make contact with the home of William Petit and Jennifer Hawke-Petit, and the time that the two suspects fled the house, according to the heavily redacted transcripts, which were obtained by ABC News.

But by then, Jennifer Hawke-Petit lay dead inside the house, apparently strangled. Her two daughters, Haley and Michaela, were tied to a bed and apparently died in a fire set by the suspects, according to police. Her husband, William Petit, who had been beaten and left for dead, escaped.

The first officer on the scene was nearby the Petits' home by about 9:28 a.m. July 23, 2007, but police were told not to approach the house, according to the call log. Over the next 25 minutes or so, police blocked off the street, set up a perimeter and a command center, and called in a special response team and equipment, according to the call log.

At about 9:54 a.m., in quick succession, police saw someone -- apparently William Petit -- leaving the house, reported that the suspects were in the driveway and attempting to flee and that the house was on fire. Police took two suspects into custody at 9:58 a.m. when they used the Petits' SUV to try to drive through a police roadblock down the street.

Steven Hayes and Joshua Komisarjevsky are accused of taking the family hostage, strangling Jennifer Hawke-Petit, tying her two daughters to their beds and setting the house ablaze. They were both charged with crimes, including murder, kidnapping and arson. They have pleaded not guilty and face the death penalty if convicted.

Lt. Jay Markella of the Cheshire, Conn., Police Department declined to comment on the chain of events that appear to be outlined in the transcript and call log, citing a gag order in the case. Citing an unidentified law enforcement source, The Associated Press reported last year that police did not immediately enter the home because they were assured by a 911 caller that no one would be hurt if police were not involved.

Because they are heavily redacted, it is not clear from the transcripts what information was communicated to police in the initial 911 call. The timeline of events is based on a call log and notes prepared by police and released this week.