The recent attack on diabetes specialist William Petit Jr. and his family is the most horrific thing I've read in the news lately. William Petit is prominent in the world of diabetes research. He is medical director of the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain. The hospital is an affiliate of the Joslin Diabetes Center.

The New York Times has plenty of coverage for those who care to read about it. There's a two-pager on the nature of the crime. This came out yesterday and describes how Petit was beaten and bound by two intruders to his Cheshire, Connecticut, home on July 23. The criminals sexually assaulted the family's two girls, forced Petit's wife Jennifer to withdraw $15,000 in cash from the local bank, then took her back to the house. The money, I guess, was supposed to be some sort of "ransom" money for the family, but to monsters like this, life is cheap; the mom and two girls were killed anyway. Ms. Petit was strangled to death. The house was set on fire and the daughters were left to die, tied to their beds.

Here's the latest: the two men responsible for the attack appeared in court today in New Haven. They were charged with capital felony murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, burglary, robbery, arson, larceny and risk of injury to children. Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty. The Times reports that about a dozen members of the Petit family were present at the hearing and issued a written statement to reporters. Dr. Petit himself stayed away. My heart really goes out to the doctor and his family.

Endocrinologist William Petit Jr. and his family were the victims of an utterly shocking crime on Monday. Two men entered the family home in Cheshire, Connecticut, assaulted the family and forced a woman, probably Petit's wife, to drive to an ATM and withdraw money. The burglars later set fire to the house and fled, leaving the family still inside. Dr. Petit survived the ordeal. His wife and two daughters were killed.

Dr. Petit (50) is a prominent diabetes researcher. He is medical director at the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain. The hospital is a Joslin Diabetes Center Affiliate institution. Dr. Petit is also president of the Hartford County Medical Association. He was elected to the American Diabetes Association's Hall of Merit in 1994.

The two men suspected of committing this terrible act were arrested as they left the scene, and they were arraigned Tuesday. Both men have extensive criminal records. The attack has sent the small community of Cheshire (just north of New Haven) reeling. Read more in this report from Forbes. Even those opposed to the death penalty may wish that an exception be made for these two. They have committed a crime that can only be described as monstrous.