A Rhode Island man sought for the shooting of his wife died over the weekend after his SUV overturned during a police pursuit, as recorded by Rhode Island State Police.
Rhode Island Man Engage in High-Speed Chase After Wife's Fatal Shooting
Joseph Francis had a warrant released against him on Friday following the deadly firing of his wife, Stephanie Francis, who was found with a gunshot injury in their Hopkinton, Rhode Island home.
On Saturday, Westerly police spotted Joseph Francis driving and tried unfortunately to pull him over. About an hour later, officers from the Richmond and Charlestown police departments again tried to intercept Francis.
During the high-speed chase, Francis lost control of his vehicle, causing it to roll several times before coming to a halt near a wooded area. Upon approaching the vehicle, police found Joseph Francis dead inside.
Before these circumstances, Francis was facing liabilities related to domestic violence, including murder and violating a no-contact order, stemming from an alleged attack on his wife in May.
This circumstance led to charges of chaotic conduct, domestic violence, and domestic assault for allegedly pushing her, damaging her phone, and verbally abusing her.
Additionally, Francis faced liabilities of unconstitutional state laws regarding high-capacity magazines after police retrieved two handguns and numerous loaded high-capacity magazines. An order had also been released constraining him from contacting his wife.
Wife Killed by Estranged Husband in Hopkinton
An investigation continues after the recorded killing of a woman by her estranged husband in Hopkinton over the weekend.
Hopkinton Police Chief Mark Carrier said that officers responded immediately to Stubtown Road on Friday night where they found 44-year-old Stephanie Francis shot dead. Her young children, who were at home at the time, contacted the police, Carrier stated.
"The toll it takes is immense, not only on the officers and the families involved, but the community," Carrier said. "It's tough for everybody."
Immediately, detectives began searching for the suspect, identified as 45-year-old Joseph Francis by Rhode Island State Police, issuing warnings to other departments statewide to consider him armed and dangerous.
On Saturday morning, Joseph Francis was spotted driving on Route 1 in Westerly. Officers tried to stop him but were unsuccessful. Less than an hour later, he was sighted again on Route 2 in Charlestown.
Joseph Francis led officers on a high-speed chase through multiple towns that ended when he crashed while attempting to turn from Dawley Park Road onto Nooseneck Hill Road.
State police detectives later approached the vehicle and found Joseph Francis dead in the driver's seat. The precise cause of his death is still undetermined.
Joseph Francis had been released on bail earlier in the year after facing liabilities of domestic violence, including assault and vandalism, Carrier noted.
Police seized multiple firearms and high-capacity magazines from him during his arrest, and he had been ordered to stay away from the casualty and banned from possessing weapons. Carrier stressed that despite all precautions being taken, he unfortunately chose to go there that night and inflict harm.
Stephanie Francis had recently begun working at Wood River Bar and Grill, according to Jim Larisa, one of the restaurant's owners.
"Our staff loved her, our customers loved her," Larisa said. "She was a good person." He recounted an instance where Stephanie bonded with a young server over earrings.
Larisa remembered that she consistently praised Stephanie's earrings. "Stephanie always had a different pair on. The next shift, she brought in an old pair of earrings and said, 'I thought these would look adorable on you.' That was her."
Larisa remarked that it is a significant loss, affecting not only the restaurant and its staff but especially her family and the whole community.
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