Norwich man charged with manslaughter in connection with January death

NORWICH -  A 57-year-old Norwich man was charged Wednesday with second-degree manslaughter in connection with a domestic violence incident in which the victim later died, police said.

Michael Gervais, of 245 Dunham St., made $150,000 bail at his Norwich Superior Court arraignment Thursday, but was ordered wear a GPS bracelet and have no contact with the family of the victim, 62-year-old Patricia Sullivan.

"I wish I could do more," Judge Kevin Murphy told the court Thursday.

Police were dispatched to 76 Newton St. on Jan. 3 for a domestic violence complaint and said they later learned the incident occurred at Gervais’ residence, according to a press release.

Sullivan was transported to The William W. Backus Hospital with head injuries and later succumbed to her injuries, police said. The two were dating and living together, according to a police report.

The state medical examiner ruled Sullivan's death a homicide in July. People interviewed by the police said Sullivan fell and hit the back of her head against a glass doorknob.

Prosectors share Michael Gervais' statement with police

Gervais told police he "belly bumped" Sullivan while pushing by her, and heard her fall to the ground, but did not look back to see what happened. Gervais was the one who eventually called 911, the report said, five and a half hours later.

"I believe someone here has had a stroke, the past four or five days this [deleted] has banged [her] head four or five times," Gervais is quoted in the police report telling a dispatcher. "[She] is slurring [her] words, [deleted] conscious and breathing and sitting on the couch right now."

Gervais pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree breach of peace in March related to a June 2020 arrest and ordered to pay a $200 fine, according to the state’s judicial website.

Gervais next court date on the manslaughter charge is Nov. 22, 2021 at Norwich Superior Court. He declined to comment when asked by a Bulletin reporter Thursday.

John Penney can be reached at jpenney@norwichbulletin.com or at (860) 857-6965. Trevor Ballantyne contributed to this report, he can be reached at tballantyne@norwichbulletin.com or at (774)-405-2898.