NORWICH – The man accused of killing a well-known Norwich area apartment supervisor carries a history of domestic violence and drug abuse, former in-laws, co-workers and neighbors say.
“There was always screaming and hollering,” said Tammy Towndrow, a former neighbor to Daniel L. Brown, Sr. during two separate stints on Pleasant and Henry streets. “It was always a domestic dispute.”
Brown, 45, Norwich, is now charged with the murder of 45-year-old city resident Tammy Periard after she was found dead early Thursday morning in the first-floor apartment she rented to Brown on 56 Henry St. Periard, of 167 E. Main St., was reported missing at noon on Tuesday after she disappeared around 8:30 a.m. Monday.
Periard’s family confirmed that she and Brown had known each other since high school, and that he occasionally helped out the property manager by performing side-work for her as a favor.
Brown’s mother, Laura Marshall, of South Plymouth, did not come to the door of her home Thursday afternoon to comment on the charges brought against her son.
“She’s really upset and does not want to talk to anyone right now,” said Priscilla Jones, Marshall’s niece. “She’s pretty distraught.”
Sue Marvin, a former co-worker and relative of Brown’s by marriage, said he appeared normal Monday evening when she saw him in downtown Norwich, nearly 12 hours after Periard was last seen alive.
“He looked fine,” Marvin said. “To know him – I’m shocked.”
Marvin and Towndrow both said Brown kept to himself and mostly performed odd jobs. However, they also said he’s been known to abuse drugs and act violently toward his wife and their four children.
“Him and Lisa (Weeks) were always quarreling,” said Marvin. “They always had cops to the house for something.”
A representative from the City of Norwich Police Department said the agency was not allowed to give a statement or disclose any information regarding Brown’s reported activities.
“That information is not available,” said Assistant Chief Van Miles.
According to several different sources, for undisclosed reasons Brown and Weeks lost custody of their children sometime between the summer and fall of 2002. According to Towndrow, the four kids were taken away again just recently. Their ages and whereabouts were not given.
When asked if Brown ever displayed violent tendencies outside his home, Marvin believes he did not.
“He had long-going domestic disputes,” she said. “As far as with anyone else, I don’t know that he has.”
Towndrow said Brown always appeared friendly in passing.
“Danny was always nice to me,” she said. “He always seemed to be pleasant.”
Others said Brown was often distraught about losing custody of his children.
“He just talked about his wife and kids a lot,” said an employee at Sun Printing in Norwich, who worked there with Brown in 2002 and wished to remain anonymous. “It was mostly about losing his kids.”