On a tragic day in March of 1998, the life of Linda Blogoslawski Mlynarczyk, a 38-year-old White female, was cut short in a horrifying act of workplace violence. A former mayor of New Britain and the chief financial officer of the Connecticut Lottery, Mlynarczyk was a respected figure in her community. The events of March 6, 1998, unfolded at the Connecticut Lottery headquarters in Newington, where a disgruntled employee, Matthew E.
Beck, embarked on a deadly shooting rampage.
Mlynarczyk, along with three of her colleagues—Connecticut Lottery President Otho Brown, Vice President Rick Rubelmann, and information services Director Michael Logan—became the unfortunate victims of Beck's violent outburst. The motive behind the killings was attributed to Beck's dissatisfaction at his job, from which he had recently returned after a medical leave. The devastating incident sent shockwaves through the state and the tight-knit community of Newington.
The perpetrator, Matthew E. Beck, an accountant at the lottery, did not face arrest or trial for his actions. After killing his four coworkers, Beck turned the gun on himself, ending his own life at the scene of the crime. This act of murder-suicide left a permanent scar on the Connecticut Lottery and the families of the victims. The community mourned the loss of Mlynarczyk and the other victims, with many remembering her as a dedicated public servant who had once led the city of New Britain. The funeral service for Mlynarczyk was held on March 10, 1998, and was attended by then-Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland and his wife, Patty Rowland.
