UPDATED: Wife Murdered, High-Speed Chase, Husband Found Dead in Vehicle After Crash in RI
GoLocalProv News Team
UPDATED: Wife Murdered, High-Speed Chase, Husband Found Dead in Vehicle After Crash in RI
This led to a nearly 12-hour series of incidents.
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The woman found dead was identified as Stephanie Francis, age 44, and was located inside the residence from an apparent gunshot wound, according to the State Police.
According to the State Police, based on the investigation, Detectives identified the suspect as Joseph Francis, age 45, the estranged husband of Stephanie Francis. An arrest warrant was obtained for Joseph Francis for (1) Domestic Violence – Murder, and (2) Domestic Violence- Violation of No Contact Order.
Joseph Francis was charged by Hopkinton Police in May on multiple domestic charges and having a large capacity feeding device for a gun.
On June 5, the bond was set at $5,000 in personal recognizance.
The conditions for the bail was:
- Domestic No Contact Order
- Pretrial Services to Monitor
- Pretrial Services to Monitor for Alcohol
- Pretrial Services to Monitor for Mental Health
He was not expected back before the judiciary until a court-ordered screening in September.
On Saturday - Events Leading Up to Chase
A BOLO was broadcast to all law enforcement agencies informing them of the warrant, the vehicle Mr. Francis operates, and that Mr. Francis should be considered armed and dangerous.
On Saturday, at approximately 10:50 am, Joseph Francis was observed by members of the Westerly Police Department operating his black Chevrolet Suburban on Route 1 North near the intersection of Route 78. Despite multiple attempts to stop Mr. Francis, he evaded law enforcement.
At approximately 11:36 am, Mr. Francis’s black Chevrolet Suburban was once again observed by members of law enforcement on Route 2 North in the Town of Charlestown and officers from the Richmond and Charlestown Police Departments attempted to stop the vehicle. As Mr. Francis attempted to flee, he began to travel west on Dawley Park Road at a high rate of speed. He failed to negotiate the turn at the intersection of Dawley Park Road and Nooseneck Hill Road and traveled west across both northbound lanes of Nooseneck Hill Road, subsequently rolling the vehicle over and coming to rest on its roof in the wood line, according to the State Police.
Considering Mr. Francis to be armed and dangerous, Charlestown and Richmond officers on the scene maintained their position until the Rhode Island State Police Tactical Team affirmed the safety of the scene.
Upon approach, Mr. Francis was found to be inside the vehicle, and medical personnel pronounced him deceased. The cause of death is pending autopsy results.
Police have not disclosed if he died from the crash or as a result of a self-inflicted wound.
This story was first published 7/7/24 at 12:48 PM and then updated at 1:25 PM.