Killer Adoptee

If they knew so well he was withdrawn, why did no one do something about that before hand?

ALLEGED CONNECTICUT KILLER ADOPTED AS BABY

By GINGER ADAMS OTIS

July 26, 2007 -- The parolee charged in the brutal Connecticut home invasion and arson that killed a doctor's wife and two daughters was adopted as an infant by a wealthy family and remained "distant" throughout his childhood and into his troubled teen years, The Post has learned.

Joshua Komisarjevsky, 26, was born to teenage parents who gave him up at birth, and ended up in the arms of Ben and Jude Komisarjevsky, born-again Christians whose lineage includes a prominent theater director and dancer and a CEO of p.r. giant Burson-Marsteller, said a source close to the family.

"Everybody in the family tried as hard as they could to make him feel welcomed, but he was very distant," the source said.

"They had many sleepless nights and tried very hard to figure out what was going wrong."

Joshua began his criminal career with burglary at the age of 14, and his parents stood by him. But these heinous accusations have left them stunned, the source said.

Komisarjevsky, 26, and Steven Hayes, 44, were slapped with a string of charges including kidnapping, sexual assault and arson. Prosecutors are still undecided whether to charge them with murder or capital murder.

Officials said that Janet Hawke-Petit, 48, was strangled in her Cheshire home. Her daughters, Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11, died of smoke inhalation.

Their father, Dr. William A. Petit was severely beaten, but survived. He remains in serious condition.

The family had been held hostage for hours after the thieves broke in Monday and forced the mother to withdraw money from a local bank, where she was able to tip off a teller to call police.

Komisarjevsky and Hayes were arrested after trying to flee the burning house.

gotis@nypost.com