Conn. home invasion survivor is a dad again

The Connecticut doctor whose wife and two daughters were killed in a brutal home invasion is a father again.

Dr. William Petit and his new wife, Christine, welcomed a son this weekend. The healthy baby boy has been named William, a family member told CBS affiliate WFSB.

The couple met while Christine, a photographer, was volunteering for the foundation Petit created in memory of his slain wife and daughters.

On July 23, 2007, two men invaded the Petit home in Cheshire, Conn., and held the family hostage for hours before setting the house on fire. Petit was beaten, tortured and tied up in the basement, but managed to escape and crawl to a neighbor’s home for help. His wife, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, and their two daughters, 17-year-old Hayley and 11-year-old Michaela, were killed.

Two men, Joshua Komisarjevsky and Steven Hayes, were convicted in the case and sentenced to death. Both are appealing.

Petit is a vocal advocate against the repeal of Connecticut’s death penalty. He said in October that  he is considering running for Congress.

The Petit Family Foundation is dedicated to promoting the education of young people, especially women in the sciences; to improve the lives of those affected by chronic illnesses; and to support efforts to protect and help those affected by violence.