Hartford Courant 9-14-25 Sunday Edition
September 14th, 2025
MYSTERY ILLNESS GRIPS HARTFORD’S NORTH END
Residents in Blue Hills and Northeast report sudden waves of crippling despair; no virus found as officials seek CDC help.
Inside, Metro A1 – Full story and hotline information, page A3.
DISAPPEARANCES RATTLE NEW BRITAIN
Seven residents and visitors have gone missing since June; police launch task force, FBI assisting.
Inside, Metro A1 – Complete coverage and timeline of cases, page A5.
Page A3
Mystery Illness Brings Wave of Despair to Hartford’s North End
By Staff Writer
Blue Hills and Northeast neighborhoods see surge in cases with no known cause
HARTFORD — City and state health officials are grappling with an unusual and deeply troubling phenomenon reported across Hartford’s North End, particularly in the Blue Hills and Northeast neighborhoods. Residents and community leaders say a wave of crippling hopelessness — described as far beyond ordinary sadness — has swept through parts of the community in recent weeks.
“We have no evidence of a virus, a toxin or an environmental trigger so far.”
— Dr. Marcia Bell, Hartford Health Department Director
According to Hartford Health Department Director Dr. Marcia Bell, dozens of people have sought medical help or been referred for mental-health evaluations since late August. Many exhibit “a sudden, overwhelming loss of will to work, socialize or even eat,” she said.
Neighborhood pastors and social workers report entire households retreating indoors, missing shifts at work and skipping community events.
“We’re seeing families who were stable suddenly unraveling,” said Sharon Cunningham, director of a community center on Tower Avenue. “It’s not just depression. It’s as if life itself has become unbearable overnight.”
City officials have asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for assistance. Meanwhile, Hartford Hospital has opened a 24-hour hotline for residents experiencing acute distress.
Mayor urges calm
Mayor Arunan Arulampalam urged calm but acknowledged the seriousness of the reports. “This city has faced adversity before,” he said in a statement. “We are mobilizing every available resource to understand and contain this.”
Page A5
String of Disappearances Alarms New Britain Police and Residents
By Staff Writer
Seven missing since June as city forms task force
NEW BRITAIN — Police in New Britain are investigating a growing number of unexplained disappearances that have rattled the city’s downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. Since early summer, at least seven people — a mix of residents and visitors — have gone missing without a trace, according to authorities.
“The frequency has increased, and that’s why we’re escalating our response.”
— Police Chief Michael Chute
The cases range from a 22-year-old Central Connecticut State University student last seen leaving a campus library in June to a retired machinist who failed to return home from an evening walk near Walnut Hill Park in late August.
Police Chief Michael Chute said his department has formed a dedicated task force and is working with state police and the FBI. “There is no single pattern we can point to yet,” Chute said at a Monday news conference. “Different ages, different backgrounds, different locations. But the frequency has increased, and that’s why we’re escalating our response.”
Family members have posted flyers and organized search parties, especially around bus and train stations. Social media groups dedicated to the missing have drawn hundreds of members.
“It feels like people just vanish into thin air.”
— Maria Gonzalez, relative of a missing resident
City officials have boosted street-camera coverage and urged anyone with information to contact police. They have also scheduled a community safety forum for next week at New Britain High School.
“We understand how unsettling this is,” Mayor Erin Stewart said in a statement. “Public safety is our top priority, and we will continue to keep the community informed as we work to bring these people home.”
