Connecticut Woman's Death Ruled Homicide After Boyfriend Claimed She Threw Herself Down the Stairs

On March 29, 2026, at approximately 11:16 p.m., emergency responders arrived at a residence on Claire Hill Road in Burlington, Connecticut, where they found 26-year-old Janina Brooke Murphy unresponsive with severe head injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Murphy's boyfriend, Cole Theodore Werhan, 28, claimed that Murphy had inflicted the injuries upon herself by repeatedly hitting her own head against a wall and throwing herself down the stairs after the pair argued. Werhan said they had been drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana when Murphy found messages from other women on his phone and became upset.

According to police documents, instead of calling emergency services, Werhan said he carried Murphy to the living room, attempting to wipe the blood from her face and head before covering her with blankets and calling his parents. Phone records show that he called his mother at 11:01 p.m. and had a conversation that lasted roughly ten minutes. His mother contacted emergency services around ten minutes later.

Connecticut State Police and emergency personnel arrived at the scene, where they found Murphy unresponsive. Officers observed Werhan wearing clothing that appeared to be stained with blood. Investigators also observed what appeared to be blood throughout the residence, including the bedroom and staircase. Murphy's hair was embedded in damaged drywall near the top of the staircase, where Werhan claimed she had thrown herself down the stairs.

Investigators documented damage to the drywall and recovered Murphy's hair from the impact site, evidence they believed was inconsistent with Werhan's account of the fall.

Werhan maintained that Murphy's injuries were self-inflicted when interviewed by police. Detectives also observed swelling and injuries to Werhan's hands during his interview.

Murphy had been in a relationship for approximately five years before she began dating Cole Werhan.

She was from Duxbury, Massachusetts, and her family described her as an animal lover who was kind and free-spirited.

According to those who knew both Murphy and Werhan, they had warned her not to get involved with him, alleging that he abused prescription medication and became obsessive in romantic relationships.

Despite their warnings, Werhan and Murphy began dating, and the relationship moved quickly. They were constantly together and discussing marriage within the first month. Friends and family said Murphy gradually lost contact with many of them because they believed Werhan discouraged her from maintaining those relationships.

The final recovered message between the couple was sent by Murphy the day before her death. It read: "I love you so much baby."

Friends of Murphy said that, in the days leading up to her death, she seemed upset and emotional and made a point of telling them she loved them before hanging up the phone.

According to police documents, Murphy's cellphone contained photographs documenting bruises in different stages of healing that she had sustained prior to her death.

Digital evidence showed that Werhan frequently argued with Murphy about who she was with and where she was. Investigators also found that Murphy often deleted conversations with other people because she feared Werhan would see them and begin another argument.

Investigators also recovered text messages showing that, shortly before Murphy's death, Werhan sent a series of messages to an unidentified individual asking them to bless the home and claiming unexplained paranormal activity had been occurring.

On June 22, 2026, Murphy's death was officially ruled a homicide caused by blunt force injuries to the head.

For nearly three months, investigators interviewed witnesses and former girlfriends, collected statements, and obtained digital records and forensic evidence that led to Werhan's arrest on June 23, 2026. He was charged with one count of murder and held on a $5 million cash bond.

After Werhan's arrest, the murder warrant was unsealed, revealing interviews with several women who alleged they met Werhan through dating apps and had experienced relationships with him that progressed quickly before becoming controlling, threatening and, in some cases, violent.

According to CT Insider, before he was arrested on the murder charge, Werhan was already facing separate domestic violence-related criminal charges.

He is scheduled to appear in court on June 30, 2026.

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