A 59–year–old dentist who began dating his girlfriend when she was a teenager killed her before turning the gun on himself after being wrongly released from a psychiatric hospital, according to a lawsuit.
Caroline Ashworth was 18 when she met Michael Mollow of Branford, Connecticut, in late 2019 or early 2020.
Mollow allegedly abused the teen during their three–year relationship, according to a civil lawsuit cited by the Hartford Courant.
After repeated domestic violence calls to Mollow’s home, Ashworth moved out on August 22, 2022.
Mollow checked himself into a psychiatric hospital the following day, where he allegedly told staff he was ‘totally obsessed’ with his ex–girlfriend and had ‘homicidal ideations’ about her.
He was admitted for 15 days but ‘prematurely’ discharged after just two, per the lawsuit filed on behalf of Ashworth’s mother Angela.
After his release, he allegedly stalked Ashworth and shot her three times before taking his own life.
Ashworth’s attorney appeared before the Connecticut Supreme Court on Thursday, arguing that SVMC Holdings Inc. – which owns the hospital that released Mollow – should be held liable for negligence.
Michael Mollow, 59, allegedly killed his ex-girlfriend Caroline Ashworth, 21, whom he began dating when she was just 18
Ashworth met Mollow in late 2019 or early 2020 and started a three-year relationship with him, which was allegedly abusive
Ashworth first called police on August 9, 2022, to report that Mollow had previously threatened to shoot her. She also alleged that he had assaulted her.
The lawsuit alleged that Mollow controlled the much younger woman by claiming ownership of her car and managing her cell phone plan.
Five days later, Mollow contacted law enforcement and allegedly acknowledged that he had tracked Ashworth using a GPS device.
He also admitted to taking her cell during a confrontation, the suit said.
He went on to follow up with police the next day and told them that Ashworth had stolen a vehicle.
Mollow allegedly convinced her to co–sign on the car after she traded in her old vehicle, the complaint said.
Ashworth eventually left Mollow’s home following multiple domestic violence calls, which allegedly sent the dentist into a dark spiral.
Mollow allegedly stalked Ashworth and then killed her with three gunshots in a condominium complex in Wethersfield
She traveled to Alabama to visit her family, while Mollow stayed behind in Connecticut.
He originally sought care at Midstate Medical Center, where he admitted that he owned multiple guns and had a pistol permit.
Mollow added that he was mixing alcohol with Xanax he got ‘off the street,’ per the suit.
The hospital then admitted Mollow under a 15–day physician’s emergency certificate, which allows patients to be confined without a court order.
Police were told about his comments, according to the complaint.
However, an officer allegedly never contacted Ashworth, citing her voicemail not being set up.
The case was marked ‘inactive’ less than 90 minutes after the hospital’s call, according to the lawsuit.
One day later, Mollow was transferred to St. Vincent’s psychiatric facility, which also had access to his records.
Despite that, he was released after just two days, even though Mollow was allegedly willing to remain hospitalized.
Mollow was only told to follow up with his primary care doctor and with a social worker five days after being released.
The legal case filed by Ashworth’s mother, Angela, is still pending, with jury selection expected to begin in December
One day later, Mollow allegedly followed Ashworth to a condominium complex in Wethersfield.
He allegedly confronted her in a parking lot and shot her three times. She was 21 at the time.
Mollow then used the gun to kill himself.
Attorney Eric Del Pozo, who is representing the hospital, argued that there was no ‘duty to warn’ Ashworth about Mollow’s release.
Del Pozo added that the suit did not include Mollow making any homicidal statements once he was at St. Vincent’s Medical Center.
He said Ashworth ‘knew everything’ that the suit alleged the hospital ‘should have told her.’
The legal case remains pending. Jury selection is expected to begin in December, according to court records.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder, who are representing Ashworth’s estate, and Eric Del Pozo, who is representing the hospital, for comment.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org.
