Rhode Island
Estranged husband-wife dead after homicide followed by car crash during police pursuit
Stephanie Francis, 44, was found dead in her Hopkinton home
RICHMOND − Two people are dead after a man shot his estranged wife on Friday, police say. He then died after crashing his car while being chased by the police the following day.
Stephanie Francis, 44, was found dead from a gunshot wound in her Hopkinton house on Friday, State Police Lt. Col. Robert Creamer wrote in a news release.
Detectives identified her estranged husband, Joseph Francis, 45, as her alleged killer and obtained an arrest warrant charging him with domestic violence murder and violating a domestic violence no-contact order. Police put out a be-on-the-lookout order for Joseph Francis and his black Chevrolet Suburban, noting he should be considered armed and dangerous, Creamer wrote.
On Saturday, at 10:50 a.m., Westerly Police Department officers spotted Joseph Francis in his Suburban on Route 1 North, near the intersection with Route 78.
Husband flees from police
“Despite multiple attempts to stop Mr. Francis, he evaded law enforcement,” Creamer wrote.
Just 46 minutes after he was first spotted in Westerly, the SUV was spotted on Route 2 North in Charlestown. Police officers from Charlestown and Richmond began to pursue him, trying to stop the vehicle. Francis then sped down Dawley Park Road and lost control at the intersection with Nooseneck Hill Road. His car went across both northbound lanes of Nooseneck Hill Road and began rolling, coming to rest on its roof at the tree line, Creamer wrote.
Charlestown and Richmond police officers did not approach the crashed SUV, instead waiting until the State Police tactical team “affirmed the safety of the scene.” When officers finally approached his car, they found him inside and medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene. His cause of death is pending an autopsy, Creamer wrote.
Photos taken by the TV station WJAR, Channel 10, show the front of the vehicle to be totally destroyed.
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Reach reporter Wheeler Cowperthwaite at wcowperthwaite@providencejournal.com or follow him on Twitter @WheelerReporter
(WJAR) — Thirty-two years ago was the commissioning of a Navy submarine named after the Ocean State.
Maria Stephanos was on board the USS Rhode Island on July 9, 1994.
Rhode Island was the Navy’s 15th Trident class ballistic submarine.
It was commissioned in Newport and was the first to be christened in its namesake state.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — They come from all walks of life, including many professionals in the community, taking time out of their busy days to welcome students to school with enthusiasm and handshakes.
“We learn a lot of new handshakes, too,” Kobi Dennis said. “High-fives. Pounds with an explosion. We get a little bit of everything.”
It’s the Handshake Initiative, the brainchild of now Central Falls Police Chief Anthony Roberson.
Everybody can use some encouragement, and students in Rhode Island get that the minute they head toward the school building.
Initially, the students and parents didn’t know what to think.
“I was confused because I thought it was going to be a normal day,” said one student.
“Their parents were getting out of their cars trying to see what’s going on,” Reservoir Avenue School Principal Cynthia Torres said.
But now, they crave it.
“It makes me feel motivated,” another student said.
Dennis adds in an etiquette component.
“Teaching the kids how to shake hands, look one another in the eyes with a firm grip — girl or guy — firm grip and say ‘hello’ and introduce yourself, that’s part of the initiative as well,” Dennis said.
Providence school superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez said it sends a strong message.
“We hear you, we see you, and we’re here for you,” Montañez said.
Torres strategically uses them on standardized test days.
“They say, ‘I’m going to do really good today,’” she said.
“It makes me feel encouraged to do better in school,” a student said.
They’ve connected with thousands of students across Rhode Island.
“It’s about shaking hands and building relationships, but it’s also about letting young people know that there are professionals in the community cheering for them every single day,” Dennis said.
Do you know of a nonprofit organization or volunteers doing great work in your community? Fill out a short nomination form for “Community Treasures.”
A man was critically hurt in a stabbing in Providence on Tuesday, NBC affiliate WJAR-TV reports.
Police were first called to Smith Street around 7 p.m. for the reported stabbing. They found the victim on Chalkstone Avenue.
He was taken to the hospital where he remains in critical condition.
The case remains under investigation and no arrests were announced.
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