by Michael Donoghue, Vermont News First

Hailey Colyer, 24, of Milton was identified this morning as the homicide victim in a stabbing in Colchester on Thursday.

The preliminary autopsy results show the cause of death was hemorrhage from multiple stab wounds, police said.

Colyer was believed to have been dropped off at 16 Florence Lane by a ride service, possibly Lyft. Colchester Police are looking to speak with the driver of that vehicle. Anyone with information is asked to call (802) 264-5555.

Elijah Compagna, 27, of 16 Florence Lane, who has a history of mental health issues, pleaded not guilty Friday to first degree murder in the stabbing death of Colyer at his new home, records show.

Compagna denied in Vermont Superior Court that he stabbed Colyer multiple times with his pocketknife while at his residence off Roosevelt Highway in Colchester on Thursday night.

Compagna told Colchester Police he also slashed her throat “because she was making too much noise,” court records note.

Judge Timothy C. Doherty Jr. ordered Compagna held without bail pending a hearing on the weight of the evidence later this month.

Compagna is under the mental health care of the Howard Center and has been at the residence since about mid-April, records show.

Florence Lane is located off U.S. 2 & 7 across the road from the Spanked Puppy restaurant and a Sunoco Gasoline Station near where Main Street (Vermont 2A) divides into a “V” intersection.

Compagna told police he suffers from mental health issues, and he was “not great,” Treier said. Compagna added he “needed help for a while” and had “asked the Howard Center for help,” court records note.

The defendant admitted he was a “bad guy” and in the last two or three years “something just broke,” a court affidavit said.

Compagna is on state probation for a simple assault conviction on Feb. 19, Treier said.

The woman was found with duct tape across her mouth and her throat slit when Colchester Rescue Crew Chief Adam Leblanc and Police Sgt. David Dewey entered the residence about 5:30 p.m., records show.

Compagna said he had lived at the residence for only a few weeks and did not know the woman, police said. He claimed he found her online for a website that is used to solicit for prostitution, Treier said in a court affidavit.

Police said Compagna reported a fight developed after she arrived when he told Colyer he had no money and just wanted to talk. He said he planned to “force her to listen to me,” police reported.

The first alert to police came from Pierette Lumumba, who said her husband was at the residence and he had sent text messages about a woman screaming about 5:20 p.m., records show. Police also got a 911 hang-up call from the residence.

Responding police found Tony Tsiba Kanga, a shared live-in caregiver, and Compagna and were told there was a woman inside that “might need help.”

Officer Alden Jusupovic went to the second-floor bedroom and found the woman with no pulse, while Officer Hunter Tabor stayed with the two men, police said.

Officer Emily Fitzpatrick obtained the Ring doorbell video that showed the woman had arrived at 4:46 p.m., Treier said.

Tsiba Kanga reported the Howard Center allowed Compagna to be alone for up to 30 hours at a time and is considered “independent,” police said.

Tsiba Kanga told police he believed he was unable to tell investigators why he is a caregiver for Compagna due to HIPAA regulations, court records note.

He did provide the name of Compagna’s Case Manager at the Howard Center, Maggie Laflame. Tsiba Kanga said Laflame did not answer her phone and when police tried reaching her, they left a phone message asking for a call back, Treier said in his affidavit.

They eventually took Compagna to the police station for an interview.

Colyer was scheduled to appear before a Vermont judge May 28 to face misdemeanor charges of operating a vehicle without owner’s consent and simple assault.