Champlin's mother was then able to run into her bedroom and lock the door, but her son kicked the door open, grabbed the cordless phone from her and hit her in the back of the head with it several times, breaking the phone, then fled from the home, police said.
After the woman spoke with officers, she was transported to the hospital to be treated for serious injuries, police said.
Officers then began searching for Champlin and received a tip that he’d been dropped off at the Old Stone Church at 251 Main St. in East Haven, so officers contacted church employees who weren’t sure if Champlin was inside but invited them in to look for him, police said.