Eighteen-year-old Marcus Fisher, who state police say confessed to stabbing his grandparents after an argument and attempting to burn down their Montville home, was arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Superior Court in Norwich.

Fisher, who recently came to the area from Minnesota and was living with his grandparents John and Gertrude Piscezek, ages 76 and 77, appeared to have trouble responding to questions from Judge Nuala E. Droney during the brief court appearance.

Family members and supporters who filled a row of benches declined to comment, but one of them said, "We love you, Marcus. Stay strong," as he was led out of the courtroom.

State police charged Fisher on Monday with two counts of murder, second-degree arson and murder with special circumstances, which alleges he killed two or more persons at the same time or in the course of a single transaction. Judge Droney kept his bond at $1 million and transferred the case to the New London court where major crimes are heard. At the recommendation of Public Defender Jean Park, who met with Fisher on Tuesday morning and stood with him in court, the judge recommended that the Department of Correction put him on a medical watch and conduct a mental health evaluation.

Fisher, who turned 18 in November, has no previous criminal history, according to a bail commissioner.

According to the state police probable cause report, Fisher called 911 at 4:46 a.m. Monday to report two dead bodies at 26 Morgan St. in the Uncasville section of Montville.

He told the dispatcher that his grandparents had been stabbed and that he had been there for "the event."

Montville police Officers Matthew Shepard and Vincent Weyel said when they arrived, Fisher approached them from the left side of the house and said he was locked out and didn't have a key. They had him sit on the front steps and asked him what happened. He said his grandparents were dead. He initially denied hurting them, but said "I did," when Weyel asked him a third time, according to the report.

He had blood and cuts on his hands.

The house was locked, and after Shepard and Sgt. Michael Pelletier looked through the rear windows and saw the two bodies on the kitchen floor, Pelletier forced entry through the front door, according to the report.

The officers found the two victims on the kitchen floor with multiple lacerations. Neither had a pulse and both were pronounced dead at the scene.

Fisher worked for three or four months at the McDonald’s across from Montville Commons on Route 32, according to his former supervisors, Minor Ruiz and Walter Williams.

Williams and Ruiz said they were shocked by news of the incident, describing Fisher as a respectful worker.

“The whole thing is earth-shattering to us,” Williams said. “It’s so sad and we’re all devastated.”

Williams said Fisher was let go a couple of weeks ago due to cuts in hours that the restaurant typically makes every January. He added that Fisher had been calling out of work in recent weeks.

“He wanted one more shift and we just didn’t have it,” he said. “We don’t know anything about his home life.”

Multiple neighbors, who declined to be identified, on Tuesday morning described the hilly Uncasville neighborhood as quiet and said they did not know the Piscezeks.

Mayor Ron McDaniel described the incident as tragic, saying he hopes “the town keeps their family in their memories and prayers.”

McDaniel added that even if a motive remains unknown, there was consolation in “that this was an isolated incident and Fisher was in custody very quickly.”

The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said autopsies were being performed Tuesday.

Detectives from the state police Eastern District Major Crime Squad assumed responsibility for the investigation and interviewed Fisher, who confessed to his involvement in the murders.

Fisher said that he got into an argument with his grandfather sometime after dinner but before bed on Sunday night. He said he grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed his grandfather in the chest. He said his grandmother entered the room, and he stabbed her. He said he cleaned the knife, then went outside and lit a fire in an attempt to burn down the house.

Fisher told detectives he had left the gas on in the house. State police Sgt. Forrest Ruddy went into the house and turned off the gas stove, according to the report. In the rear of the house, he found smoldering branches and logs on a propane tank that was attached to the gas line leading into the house.

Day Staff Writer Benjamin Kail contributed to this report.

k.florin@theday.com