Bristol man charged with murder in death of Eudora Gustafson

The 66-year-old woman was found dead in her Sowams Drive home Friday evening

By Patrick Luce
Posted 2/14/17

Bristol Police have arrested the man allegedly responsible for the death of a Bristol woman found in her home Friday evening.

Raymond Paiva, 24, of 34 Sowams Road, has been charged with murder in …

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Bristol man charged with murder in death of Eudora Gustafson

The 66-year-old woman was found dead in her Sowams Drive home Friday evening

Posted

Bristol Police have arrested the man allegedly responsible for the death of a Bristol woman found in her home Friday evening.

Raymond Paiva, 24, of 34 Sowams Road, has been charged with first degree murder in the death of Eudora Gustafson, Bristol Police announced Tuesday afternoon.

Mr. Paiva was arraigned Tuesday at RI Hospital, where he is recovering from multiple gunshot wounds reportedly sustained when Providence Police opened fired after chasing him Friday evening. He was ordered held without bail, and will be remanded to the ACI after being released from the hospital.

Mr. Paiva is Ms. Gustafson's grandson, and was living at the home where he allegedly murdered her Friday night. Police have not released any details of the investigation, including Ms. Gustafson's cause of death.

Bristol Police responded to a call from Mark Gustafson around 7 p.m. Friday that his wife was unresponsive. She was determined to be dead at the scene.

Mr. Gustafson reportedly realized checks, jewelry, prescription drugs, and his wife’s car were missing Friday night. Bristol Police issued a bulletin for the car, which Providence Police found later Friday. Providence officers reportedly fired on Mr. Paiva and his companion, Selena Martinez, 21, after a brief chase. Both were hit and hospitalized, according to reports. No weapon has been reported to have been in the couple's possession.

Providence Police Sgt. Curt Desautels and Officer Taylor Brito reportedly perceived a threat when approaching the car and fired multiple times each, Providence Police have said. Mr. Paiva was reportedly hit multiple times and brought to RI Hospital in critical condition. Ms. Martinez was treated and released into police custody.

Ms. Martinez was arraigned in Providence District Court Monday morning on five Providence charges of possessing a stolen vehicle and receiving stolen goods, three of them felonies, according Amy Kempe in Attorney General Peter Kilmartin's office. Ms. Martinez was released on $10,000 personal recognizance and remains under investigation for her potential role in the Bristol homicide, Ms. Kempe said.

This wasn't the first police visit to the Sowams Road home, according to neighbor Steve Withers, who lives next door. A Bristol police car was seen Thursday outside the house, where officers were asking about a potential domestic issue, according to neighbor Steve Withers.

Bristol murder, Bristol Police

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