Richard Colangelo Jr. is Connecticut's new chief state's attorney. Courtesy photo

Richard Colangelo Jr., the prosecutor in the Fotis Dulos case, and the state's attorney for the Judicial District of Stamford/Norwalk, became Connecticut's chief state's attorney Thursday night.

He emerged as the top candidate when the Criminal Justice Commission made its choice at about 7:30 p.m., after hearing from all four finalists in a meeting that stretched into the night.

Colangelo has served as the state's attorney for the Judicial District of Stamford/Norwalk since July 2015. He is a longtime prosecutor who has specialized in child-exploitation cases involving the Internet. According to the biography on his website, he has tried all types of major felony cases, and is involved in criminal investigations and criminal justice education. He also formed the Technical Investigations Unit of Southwest Connecticut, a regional task force of nine police departments that pool resources to examine computers and mobile devices in the course of criminal investigations.

He replaced Kevin Kane, who stepped down from the role after holding the post for 13 years.

Colangelo is best known for his work in the case against Dulos, who was charged with killing his wife. Dulos died by suicide Thursday evening, after being rushed to the hospital Tuesday. It's not clear what comes next, because defense attorney Norm Pattis told reporters he would continue working to exonerate his client, who Pattis said was innocent in the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos.

Meanwhile, word of Colangelo's appointment spread quickly.

In a statement, Gov. Ned Lamont applauded the choice.

"I commend the members of the Criminal Justice Commission for making this selection process open, and involving the public throughout each step," the governor's statement said. "Ever since Chief State's Attorney Kevin Kane announced his impending retirement last summer, the commission invited the public to participate in ways they have never been involved before, including through public hearings and the ability to provide written comments to its members. The chief state's attorney has a significant impact on our justice system, which is why the commission's decision to involve the public should be applauded."

The ACLU of Connecticut Smart Justice Campaign, which had the four finalists answer a questionnaire focused on incarceration and police accountability, also issued a statement.

"Connecticut's Chief State's Attorney has the power and responsibility to actively, vocally, and consistently advance decarceration and racial justice. We strongly urge Richard Colangelo to fully seize his role in ending mass incarceration and racism in the criminal legal system," the ACLU statement read. "All Chief State's Attorney finalists, including Richard Colangelo, showed room for improvement and positive signs in their responses to Smart Justice's survey and the questions asked today by the Criminal Justice Commission. Smart Justice looks forward to holding Richard Colangelo accountable for supporting the decarceration and racial justice policies outlined in our survey, and we are requesting that he meet with us within the first 30 days of his term."

Colangelo graduated from Quinnipiac University School of Law in 1992, and has taught criminal justice programs in the state's community college system since 1995. He could not be reached for comment late Thursday.

The other finalists were Kevin Lawlor, deputy chief state's attorney for operations at the office of chief state's attorney; Erik Lohr, an associate attorney general for legal counsel in the Office of the Attorney General; and Maureen Platt, state's attorney for the Judicial District of Waterbury.

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