HOPKINTON, RI - Authorities with the Rhode Island State Police have confirmed that they, along with the Hopkinton Police Department are investigating a domestic homicide that happened on Friday, July 5th, leading to a high-speed vehicle pursuit on Saturday, July 6th.
According to WJAR, police were called to 171 Stubtown Road around 11:47 p.m. on Friday, July 5th, for a possible homicide investigation. Upon arriving on scene, police located the body if a woman, since identified as 44-year-old Stephanie Francis, with an apparent gunshot wound.
The initial investigation led police to the suspect, the estranged husband of the victim, 45-year-old Joseph Francis. Once Joseph became the prime suspect, police obtained a warrant for domestic violence, murder and domestic violence, and a violation of no contact order. Additionally, a BOLO (be on the lookout) was broadcast to local law enforcement agencies.
On Saturday, July 6th, Westerly Police spotted the suspect driving his black Chevrolet Suburban on route 1 north near the intersection of route 78 around 10:50 a.m. Rhode Island State Police Lt. Col. Robert Creamer said that police attempted to stop Francis, but he fled the area. The suburban was spotted again about 45 minutes later, around 11:36 a.m. on route 2 north in Charlestown.
Richmond and Charlestown police tried to stop the SUV, but Francis fled west on Dawley Park Road at a "high rate of speed." As Francis tried to turn at the intersection of Dawley Park Road and Nooseneck Hill Road, the SUV lost control and veered across both northbound lanes of Nooseneck Hill Road.
The SUV rolled over and came to a rest on its roof in the wood line. The Rhode Island State police tactical team responded to the crash and found Francis dead inside the vehicle. Lt. Col. Creamer said that the cause of death is pending autopsy results.
According to reports, Joseph Francis was charged by Hopkinton Police back in May on multiple domestic charges and having a large capacity feeding device for a gun. On June 5th, the bond for Francis was set at $5,000 in personal recognizance. The conditions of his bail were: domestic no contact order; pretrial services to monitor; pretrial services to monitor for alcohol; and pretrial services to monitor for mental health. He was not expected back before the judge until a court-ordered screening in September.
In Cranston, Rhode Island, footage from body cameras show a driver intentionally hitting and killing another man early in the morning on Friday, July 5th. The incident happened seconds after police arrived on scene where a fight was happening. The fight had nearly a dozen people involved, including a 15-year-old bleeding from a stab wound to the back.
A police investigation has charged 24-year-old Edwin Torres with murder and 23-year-old Destiny Torres with a felony count of assault with a dangerous weapon. According to Cranston police Maj. Todd Patalano, the two suspects are believed to be cousins and both were in the Honda Accord that struck and killed Isaac Vasquez.
Patalano said, "They did know the other people on the other side of this disturbance. We're just trying to get some more answers on how they met up, how it occurred, and what the reason was for it." He added, "These body cameras tell the whole store. There's nothing better than these body cameras today to utilize in our investigations."
According to WJAR, police were called to 171 Stubtown Road around 11:47 p.m. on Friday, July 5th, for a possible homicide investigation. Upon arriving on scene, police located the body if a woman, since identified as 44-year-old Stephanie Francis, with an apparent gunshot wound.
The initial investigation led police to the suspect, the estranged husband of the victim, 45-year-old Joseph Francis. Once Joseph became the prime suspect, police obtained a warrant for domestic violence, murder and domestic violence, and a violation of no contact order. Additionally, a BOLO (be on the lookout) was broadcast to local law enforcement agencies.
On Saturday, July 6th, Westerly Police spotted the suspect driving his black Chevrolet Suburban on route 1 north near the intersection of route 78 around 10:50 a.m. Rhode Island State Police Lt. Col. Robert Creamer said that police attempted to stop Francis, but he fled the area. The suburban was spotted again about 45 minutes later, around 11:36 a.m. on route 2 north in Charlestown.
Richmond and Charlestown police tried to stop the SUV, but Francis fled west on Dawley Park Road at a "high rate of speed." As Francis tried to turn at the intersection of Dawley Park Road and Nooseneck Hill Road, the SUV lost control and veered across both northbound lanes of Nooseneck Hill Road.
The SUV rolled over and came to a rest on its roof in the wood line. The Rhode Island State police tactical team responded to the crash and found Francis dead inside the vehicle. Lt. Col. Creamer said that the cause of death is pending autopsy results.
According to reports, Joseph Francis was charged by Hopkinton Police back in May on multiple domestic charges and having a large capacity feeding device for a gun. On June 5th, the bond for Francis was set at $5,000 in personal recognizance. The conditions of his bail were: domestic no contact order; pretrial services to monitor; pretrial services to monitor for alcohol; and pretrial services to monitor for mental health. He was not expected back before the judge until a court-ordered screening in September.
In Cranston, Rhode Island, footage from body cameras show a driver intentionally hitting and killing another man early in the morning on Friday, July 5th. The incident happened seconds after police arrived on scene where a fight was happening. The fight had nearly a dozen people involved, including a 15-year-old bleeding from a stab wound to the back.
A police investigation has charged 24-year-old Edwin Torres with murder and 23-year-old Destiny Torres with a felony count of assault with a dangerous weapon. According to Cranston police Maj. Todd Patalano, the two suspects are believed to be cousins and both were in the Honda Accord that struck and killed Isaac Vasquez.
Patalano said, "They did know the other people on the other side of this disturbance. We're just trying to get some more answers on how they met up, how it occurred, and what the reason was for it." He added, "These body cameras tell the whole store. There's nothing better than these body cameras today to utilize in our investigations."
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2024-07-09T09:35-0400 | Comment by: DS
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