Investigation Of I-84 Slaying Continues

By Andrew Gorosko

State police are continuing their investigation into the shooting death of Mark Rebong, a 28-year-old Newtown man who was killed January 17 in Danbury while on his way to work at the Danbury Hilton and Towers.

State police detective Sergeant Warren Hyatt said Monday, “We’re still doing a number of interviews. We’re still working with the [crime] lab on evidence.”

“We’re optimistic,” Sgt Hyatt said.

“Every day we learn something new,” he added.

 Asked what headway state police are making in finding out who might have killed Mr Rebong, Sgt Hyatt said the investigation is “still open and proceeding.” State police work on the case daily, he said.

The detective declined to disclose the specifics of Mr Rebong’s violent death.

State police have interviewed the friends and associates of Mr Rebong in seeking to learn who might have shot him.

Those interviews seek to establish facts to learn why Mr Rebong was shot, and how the incident occurred. Investigators have interviewed about 200 people overall, including about 125 motorists on Interstate-84, in seeking to learn the circumstances of Mr Rebong’s death.

Someone shot Mr Rebong in the head about 11 pm January 17 in the area of Exit 2 on I-84, while he was on his way to work as the night auditor at the nearby Danbury Hilton and Towers.

Responding to a report of a motor vehicle accident, state police found the mortally wounded Mr Rebong in his black 1999 Jeep Cherokee, which had come to rest alongside a fence near a commuter parking lot next to Exit 2. The driver’s side window of the Jeep had been shot out.

Mr Rebong died late January 18 at Danbury Hospital. An autopsy found Mr Rebong to be the victim of a homicide caused by a single gunshot wound to the head.

There is no indication of robbery, according to state police.

State police have said they are considering various scenarios to explain Mr Rebong’s death. These include an incident of road rage in which an enraged motorist shot Mr Rebong; an incident of random violence; and the possibility that someone who knew Mr Rebong shot him for a specific reason.

State police did some ballistics investigation as part of a thorough search for evidence January 18 in the area where they found Mr Rebong.

In the days after the shooting, state police set up roadblocks at Exit 2 at about the time of day Mr Rebong was shot. They questioned more than 100 motorists seeking leads in the case.  

Connecticut State Police are seeking information from the public to help them solve the Rebong murder. Investigators in the case may be contacted at 800/376-1554 by Connecticut callers, or at 203/267-2200 by New York State callers.