Warren police charged murder suspect in November

Luis Matta, faces charges of killing his girlfriend, a former Warren resident

By Ted Hayes
Posted 1/17/19

The Providence man charged with murdering a former Warren woman earlier this week was charged two months ago by Warren police with domestic violence/breaking and entering, after he allegedly tried to …

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Warren police charged murder suspect in November

Luis Matta, faces charges of killing his girlfriend, a former Warren resident

Posted

The Providence man charged with murdering a former Warren woman earlier this week was charged two months ago by Warren police with domestic violence/breaking and entering, after he allegedly tried to break into the victim’s home when she lived in that town.

Former Warren resident Rachael Rene, 33, was found stabbed to death on Tuesday, Jan. 15, in the Providence apartment shared by her, Luis Matta, 34, and their eight-month-old infant. Mr. Matta, who was arrested after he walked in to the Providence Police Department and admitted to the killing Tuesday, is being held without bail on a first degree murder charge.

The alleged murder is not Mr. Matta’s first run-in with the law involving Ms. Rene. He turned himself in to Sixth Division District Court on a warrant Tuesday, Nov. 13, after a woman identified only as a “victim” reached out to Warren police to report that he had violated a protective order she had earlier filed against him.

Police said at the time that the victim learned that Mr. Matta had kicked in the door of her apartment while looking for her, though she was not home at the time. Following his arrest, Mr. Matta was arraigned and released on personal recognizance, court records show.

Ms. Rene’s death has drawn strong condemnations from the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, which released the following statement on Wednesday, Jan. 16, one day after the murder:

“We are devastated by the domestic violence murder of Rachael Rene, which occurred in her Providence apartment yesterday and marks the first domestic violence homicide of 2019. Rachael was brutally stabbed by her boyfriend, Louis Motta, who surrendered himself to authorities shortly thereafter.

“We are profoundly saddened that only two weeks into the new year, we are mourning another life lost to domestic violence. Rachael, just 33-years-old, was a beloved mother, friend, and member of our community. Her tragic murder reminds us that domestic violence happens every day, in every Rhode Island city and town. In such a small state, we are all affected by Rachael’s death. We extend our deepest condolences to her loved ones and to all who have been impacted by this heinous crime.

“We are particularly distressed to learn that Rachael’s 8-month-old baby was in the home at the time of the murder. Our entire community of survivors and advocates holds this infant child and their family in our hearts, and embrace them with strength and love.

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