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Police give few details on double homicide

01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, June 27, 2007

By Gregory Smith

Journal Staff Writer

Jesus

PROVIDENCE — Nearly two weeks after two young women were found slain in a burning tenement apartment in Silver Lake, the police are tight-lipped about the case.

Among the unanswered questions are whether there is a suspect, whether the police have any of the weapons used to kill the pair or even how many people have been interviewed in the investigation.

Maj. Stephen Campbell, commander of the police Investigative Division, said yesterday that he is reluctant to say what he knows, lest he compromise the investigation. He won’t even say whether his detectives are making progress.

Asked if this investigation is proving to be more problematic than other homicide investigations, Campbell said it is too soon to tell.

“Some of the best detectives that we have are assigned to this case,” he said. “Sgt. [James] Marsland, who has experience in many high-profile homicides, is leading this investigation. I know that they are working tirelessly.”

Heather V. Jesus, 20, of 375 Plainfield St., who lived in the tenement, and her cousin, Amanda L. Sousa, 17, of 221 Valley St., who was visiting, were both found dead on the floor of the living room of Jesus’ four-room third-floor apartment June 14.

Dr. Thomas Gilson, Rhode Island chief state medical examiner, said Jesus died of “sharp-force injuries and asphyxia due to neck and chest compression,” and that Sousa died of “multiple blunt impact and sharp-force injuries.”

Neither Gilson nor Campbell would put the findings into layman’s language, such as whether the “sharp-force injuries” mean the victims were stabbed. But Campbell has said their wounds included lacerations.

“To elaborate on [the findings], from an investigative standpoint, would not be helpful at this time,” Campbell said yesterday.

A joint funeral service for the women was held Saturday at Smith-Mason Funeral Home in East Providence.

Members of their extended family said yesterday that they will offer a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer.

An aunt of both women said that starting today, family members will be placing signs at bus stops around Providence, asking that anyone with information contact the Providence police. The signs have pictures of both women on them, along with their date of death and the phone number of the Police Department.

“If you have any information that could solve this case, please call Providence Police,” one sign reads.

Campbell declined comment on the reward.

The fire was set deliberately to destroy evidence, the major has said, and he confirmed yesterday that the blaze began in the living room, where the bodies were found. Both victims were attacked prior to the fire, he has said.

“We had some people in [for interviews] … early on in the investigation,” Campbell said. “There are people who we are still speaking with, and the investigation is ongoing.”

With a report from staff writer Dan Barbarisi.

gsmith@projo.com