HOPKINTON, RI — A man wanted for the murder of his wife died over the weekend after his car overturned during a police chase, the Rhode Island State Police said in a statement.
An arrest warrant was issued Friday for Joseph Francis in the shooting death of his wife, Stephanie Francis, whose body was found with a gunshot wound in their Hopkinton, Rhode Island, home. On Saturday, Westerly police spotted Joseph Francis driving and tried unsuccessfully to apprehend him.
About an hour later, officers from the Richmond and Charlestown police departments attempted to apprehend Francis again. During the chase, Francis failed to negotiate a curve, rolled his vehicle multiple times, and came to rest near a wooded area. Police approached the vehicle and found Francis dead inside.
Francis, who was wanted on charges of domestic violence-murder and domestic violence-violation of restraining order, was previously charged with allegedly assaulting his wife in May, according to a report from the Hopkinton Police Department. In that case, he was charged with disorderly conduct, domestic violence and domestic battery for allegedly pushing her, breaking her phone and yelling at her.
He was also charged with violating a state law banning high-capacity warehouses after police seized two handguns and several loaded high-capacity magazines. A warrant was also issued prohibiting him from contacting his wife.