Man Suspected of Murdering Wife Killed in Police Chase

(BrightPress.org) – A Rhode Island man suspected of murdering his wife was killed in a car crash during a police pursuit on July 6th. The tragic sequence of events began when Joseph Francis, the main suspect in the shooting death of his estranged wife Stephanie Francis, was pursued by law enforcement. She was shot to death at their residence on Subtown Road in Hopkinton.

Authorities quickly issued a warrant for Joseph Francis’s arrest, who was believed to be responsible for the crime. On July 5th, police started the search for him. By July 6th, Westerly police spotted Francis driving on Route 1 around 11:00 am but were unable to stop him as he fled.

Richmond and Charlestown police joined the chase shortly after, trying to apprehend Francis. The pursuit ended in a dramatic crash when Francis lost control of his SUV while attempting to make a turn. The vehicle rolled several times down an embankment before coming to a halt near some wooded area. When officers reached the scene, they discovered Francis dead inside the wrecked vehicle. The exact cause of death is still under investigation by the Medical Examiner’s Office.

The whole ordeal of hunting down Francis was nearly 12 hours.

Joseph Francis had a history of legal issues related to his estranged wife. In May, he faced multiple charges for domestic violence, one of which was after an incident where he allegedly assaulted Stephanie, damaged her phone, and yelled at her. Additionally, he was found in possession of two handguns and several high-capacity magazines, which led to charges under a state law banning such magazines. Following these incidents, a court order was issued to keep him from contacting his wife.

The fatal police chase unfolded as part of the ongoing efforts to bring Joseph Francis to justice for the recent murder of his wife. The car crash ended any hopes of capturing him alive and marked a dramatic conclusion to a tragic case.

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