In a deeply emotional gathering, the mother of 2-year-old Ta’naj Fletcher spoke through tears at a vigil in Bridgeport on Friday, honoring the memory of her beloved son. The child was one of two victims fatally stabbed in a brutal attack in West Haven on February 15. The second victim, 19-year-old Hailey Miller, also lost her life in the horrific incident.
The vigil, held at St. Mark’s Day Care—where Ta’naj once played and learned—served as a poignant tribute to the toddler’s innocent life. Surrounded by grieving friends, family, and community members, Myra Stewart, the boy’s mother, found solace in remembering his laughter.
“Ta’naj was perfectly innocent—I know he’s going to heaven,” Stewart said, fighting back tears. “If you wonder how I look so strong, it’s because my baby makes me laugh in my head, even when I’m grieving.”
The man accused of the murders, Jevon Fletcher, 26, of New Haven, faces multiple charges, including two counts of murder with special circumstances and one count of risk of injury to a minor. He appeared in Milford Superior Court via video on Tuesday, where Judge Auden Grogins described the case as “as serious as you can get.”
According to West Haven police, officers arrived at an apartment on Meloy Road just before 9 p.m. on February 15 after neighbors reported hearing a woman screaming for help. Inside, they discovered the lifeless bodies of Miller and young Ta’naj. Authorities say that after committing the crime, Fletcher leaped from a second-floor window, sustaining injuries that required hospitalization before his arraignment.
Miller, a devoted young mother, leaves behind a son who was not present at the time of the attack. In her memory, family members have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help secure the child’s future and cover funeral expenses. Loved ones described Miller as a hardworking mother, committed to giving her son a life full of love and opportunities.
As the community grapples with this heartbreaking tragedy, they gather in support of the grieving families, seeking justice for two lives lost far too soon.
