(WLNE) — The West Greenwich Police Department said a suspect was arrested after police found multiple suspected drugs in a rented motel room the department searched a Super 8 motel after the man who was renting it was being investigated for potentially selling and distributing narcotics Police said the suspect was charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute schedule I-V controlled substances and held without bail at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections The seized items will undergo toxicology testing by the Rhode Island Department of Health A West Greenwich family was killed as a result of a murder-suicide the West Greenwich Police Department said Wednesday A welfare check at a Cheyenne Trail house on Friday led to the heartbreaking discovery Police said a pregnant woman and her two young children were found shot to death the suspect was the woman’s husband and father to the children The victims were 39-year-old Danielle Arruda 5-year-old Adele Arruda and 2-year-old Felix Arruda "It's hard to describe her with just words and she just always had the right thing to say," Danielle's cousin was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head Near the suspect was a semi-automatic weapon that police said they believe was the murder weapon and police said it does not appear anyone entered or left the home West Greenwich police said they never had any previous contact with the family "I understand this is a heartbreaking time for the relatives and friends of the Arruda family I wish there could be an explanation to help you make sense of this horrific act but the truth is we may never know why it happened," said West Greenwich Police Chief Richard Ramsay Nicholas Arruda had one prior felony domestic violence arrest in 2014 The case was dropped when the victim refused to cooperate The family had purchased the home in December 2019 A GoFundMe campaign is raising money for Danielle Arruda's parents to help them with funerals like even people that we don't even know rest in peace and everything like that means the world to us," Ruffner said "And we just hope that if anybody is able to help our family in need Editor's note: Here is the most recent story on this case WEST GREENWICH − A Rhode Island community braced for the saddest of headlines on Monday as police continued to investigate the violent deaths of four people whose bodies were found in a local home on Friday Ramsay has not named any of the people who were in the home Ramsay had anticipated that he would be able to provide further information on the situation after medical examinations provide certain findings awaited by investigators But the extent of any new information that Ramsay would provide at that point still wasn't clear Monday More: Chilling footage before domestic murder-suicide sparks debate: Should the public watch? What was clear was that the death scene at 15 Cheyenne Trail was the likely the outcome of extreme gun violence in a domestic setting What happened at 15 Cheyenne Trail in West Greenwich?The home in question is a single-story ranch in an area near Lake Mishnock Most of the streets in the area have Native American names Many of the homes are nestled amongst trees and festively decorated for the holidays a state police mobile crime lab was parked outside the house A white four-door pickup truck was parked in the driveway alongside a smaller vehicle Why were West Greenwich police originally sent to the home?Ramsay said police officers had initially gone to the house at 10:30 a.m The officers were checking on the well-being of a resident who had not gone to work the officers encountered "suspicious circumstances." They made a forced entry into the house The bodies exhibited gunshot wounds and it appeared that gunfire was the cause of death State police and West Greenwich police are jointly investigating the deaths Many questions remain unanswered in the public space from the identities of the dead to whether children were involved who was president of the West Greenwich Town Council until last year Tourgee sold the home to a young woman named Danielle Arruda West Greenwich town records list Arruda as the owner of the house and a Coventry police record obtained by The Journal also identifies the house as Arruda's residence Tourgee grew up on Cheyenne Trail and moved out in 1993 His only personal experience with Arruda was at the 2019 closing he said that West Greenwich residents were already greatly disturbed by the event already − without knowing many of the details To have four people dead and exhibiting gunshot wounds inside the same house is something that hasn't happened at least in 100 years in West Greenwich if ever He said he believes the episode will continue to anguish many residents in the days ahead that's hard for the community to come to grips with," Tourgee said "That's why it's such a really unnecessary tragic happening in our town." This story was updated because an earlier version contained an inaccuracy WEST GREENWICH, R.I. (WJAR) — Four bodies were found inside a Rhode Island home on Friday afternoon Police did not immediately release the names of the victims, but neighbors told WJAR a man and a woman lived there with two children The medical examiner was called to the West Greenwich home as police converged at the scene Police were called to do a welfare check on one of the victims when they failed to show up for work The Rhode Island State Police Mobile Crime Laboratory was set up outside the home Investigators were seen going in and out of the house and backyard We will add more information as it becomes available A brush fire burned approximately 3.5 acres of land in West Greenwich Monday night Firefighters said they responded to Hopkins Hill Road shortly before 6 p.m Officials said the fire was contained before 8 p.m WEST GREENWICH, R.I. (WLNE) — West Greenwich police said on Wednesday that the four bodies found in a West Greenwich home on Cheyenne Trail was a murder-suicide On Jan. 3, Danielle Arruda, 39, who was 7 months pregnant, her two kids, Adele, 5, and Felix, 2, were all found dead after suffering multiple gunshot wounds from a semi-automatic gun “We never saw activity,” Cheyenne Trail resident Aidan Schuster said Residents on the street said the Arruda family kept to themselves “It was shocking to hear what went on there,” neighbor Eveline Paraskevakos said “We are not used to anything like that “I never saw the husband at all,” Schuster said “I would see the wife every so often A growing memorial has been set up at the home on the front porch who was Danielle’s husband and Adele and Felix’s father was also found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound “I wish there could be an explanation to make sense of this horrific act but the truth is we may never know why it happened,” West Greenwich Police Chief Richard Ramsay said Police were called to conduct a well-being check at the home after a coworker of Danielle’s called police saying she hadn’t shown up to work for several days “Two vehicles were in the driveway and after several attempts to get someone to come to the door we decided to force entry into the home,” Ramsay said “Once inside the home officers immediately noticed the bodies of two young children Police said they believe the incident happened between Wednesday at 8 p.m “I believe it happened around 5:20am,” Schuster said “I was asleep but my brother heard gunshots at like 5:20 in the morning on Thursday.” Police also said the Arruda family moved to this home in 2019 and police had never responded to the home until last week WEST GREENWICH − A 39-year-old West Greenwich man last week shot and killed his pregnant wife and his two children and then died by suicide Nicholas Arruda shot and killed 39-year-old Danielle Arruda their 5-year-old daughter and their 2-year-old son according to West Greenwich Police Chief Richard N Danielle Arruda was seven months pregnant with the couple's third child bringing the total number of deaths to five The shooting happened between 8 p.m. on New Year's Day and 5:20 a.m. on Jan. 2 inside the family's home on Cheyenne Trail, a neighborhood close to the shores of Lake Mishnock "I wish there could be an explanation to help you make sense of this horrific act," Ramsay said "But the truth is we may never know why it happened." Danielle Arruda's family and friends told police they'd believed the mother was living together happily with the father of her children "This came out of the blue," said her 26-year-old cousin who said she had celebrated Christmas with Danielle and her family Ruffner Cihat identified Danielle's daughter as 6-year-old Adel Arruda and Danielle's son as 2-year-old Felix Arruda She described Danielle as a doting mother of two who was expecting a third child The family's bodies were found on Jan. 3 when officers went to check on the well-being of Danielle Arruda and found "suspicious circumstances" that led them to force entry into the home the officers encountered two vehicles outside and they couldn't get anyone to come to the door "officers immediately noticed the bodies of two young children It was apparent there were no signs of life to any of the bodies and that all four had suffered fatal gunshot wounds." Nicholas Arruda died from a self-inflicted single gunshot wound adding that investigators did not see any signs of a struggle by any of the victims Investigators believe the M4 used by Nicholas Arruda was acquired in 2018 He said he did not know where the gun was acquired Lying on the ground next to Nicholas Arruda was an M4-type semiautomatic weapon adding that investigators believe the father killed his family with the same gun but they have not conducted a "formal firearms investigation." Investigators believe Arruda had legally acquired the M4 as well as a shotgun and one other semiautomatic gun A past allegation of felony domestic violenceIn 2014 West Warwick police arrested Nicholas Arruda and accused him of felony domestic violence West Greenwich police never received any indication of trouble at the Arruda family's home on Cheyenne Trail and all indications from family and friends were that they loved each other and they loved their children," Ramsay said Police haven't had any previous contact with the family The law was never applied to Nicholas Arruda Danielle Arruda graduated from North Kingstown High School in the early 2000s Her online résumé says she has worked as a paralegal Nicholas Arruda had previously earned money as a painter but he hadn't worked in many years after suffering a back injury The father was homeschooling the couple's children while Danielle worked at her job Investigators said they have not recovered any note or found any clues to explain why Arruda carried out the killings and then killed himself Homicide is a leading cause of death among pregnant women, as well as pregnant girls, and females who have given birth within the past year, according to a review of research on the subject that was published last year in the journal "There's not really much you can do with an investigation like this." Homicide accounted for 10.2% of deaths that happened during pregnancy Women and girls who are pregnant or who have given birth during the past year are twice as likely to die by homicide If you or someone you know might be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, or chat online at 988lifeline.org This story has been updated with new information (WJAR) — Four people who were apparently shot to death were found Friday inside a home in West Greenwich Police did not immediately release the names of the victims or indicate their connection with the home But neighbors said that number is consistent with the mother and two children who they believe to have lived in the Cheyenne Trail house "I woke up around 11 o'clock to cops banging on my door," Brendan Schuster A co-worker of one of the victims called police requesting a welfare check Friday morning after that person had not been showing up to work they found all four victims dead with gunshot wounds "I've been in law enforcement now for 35 years This is probably one of the worst things that I've had to deal with and we're going to do our best to determine what happened," West Greenwich Police Chief Richard Ramsay said Neighbors said the family who lived in the home kept to themselves "The family in the house was really quiet," another neighbor told NBC10 crews State police were involved in the investigation New information from police and the medical examiners including the identities of those four people who pulled the trigger WEST GREENWICH − The allegations in a West Warwick police report were unproven and more than a decade old But they loomed large after Nicholas Arruda shot and killed his two children, his pregnant wife a 17-year-old girl told police that Arruda had pointed a rifle at her head and his own head She told them Arruda had threatened to kill her and said at one point that he wanted to "watch her die." Such episodes can foreshadow suicidal killing sprees experts say it makes sense to look out for "red flag" behavior and take preventative action if possible Tragic outcomes can fuel scrutiny and prompt questions about what could have been done - or should have been done - and by whom An account like the one logged in 2014 by West Warwick police which seems almost like a forecast with hindsight Arruda is identified as the boyfriend of a 17-year-old girl who tells police about her struggle with him in her West Warwick home after school She described Arruda as a "controlling boyfriend" who told her she was "worthless," she said Arruda lived with his family in another home on the same street the teen went to her aunt's house and West Warwick police were notified Police noticed a Swastika tattoo on his right shoulder The teen didn't cooperate and the case was dismissed the vulnerability of Arruda's pregnant wife although pregnancy itself is a risk factor for domestic homicide and weapons were in the home Police had never been called to the family's West Greenwich home for any disturbances and a cousin of Danielle Arruda says the 39-year-old's family was not aware of any red flag behavior Anyone who is arrested in a domestic violence case in Rhode Island is automatically prohibited from possession of guns which police typically remove when they make an arrest But some people have lots of guns for police to seize In Hopkinton this past summer, police took Joseph Francis' guns He armed himself with a shotgun and returned home in violation of a no-contact order and shot and killed his wife Lucy Rios, executive director of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence says the state doesn't have an agency that actually ensures that a defendant who has guns actually surrenders them when a judge orders it "There isn't that compliance piece with the orders," she says I'm just saying it is a gap in the system." "If we can't be sure that we enforce the current laws that we have … then we're going to continue to lose people in our state," Rios says police had seized a Hi-Point 9-millimeter semiautomatic rifle and a rifle magazine from Arruda's home Arruda was entitled to have his rifle back West Warwick Police Chief Ernest Lavigne agreed to speak generally about what happens to guns in situations where domestic violence charges do not lead to convictions Most departments want an order from a court that clearly directs them to return the guns if there aren't any other "prohibitive factors" in play such as a protective order a defendant might be clear of charges in one case but not yet clear in another case Arruda was free to take his gun to West Greenwich when he settled there with his newlywed wife in 2019 West Greenwich police say officers did not visit the home to deal with any domestic disturbances Rhode Island police leaders say they have no way of knowing how many guns someone has in a house unless someone gives them that information "I don't get notified that someone's just moved into my community with a firearm," says the president of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association the dealer contacts the police department in the town or city where that person lives The department has seven days to carry out a background check and determine if the applicant is prohibited from gun possession by law the gun owner can receive the gun without further police purview for police to check in on someone who might be increasingly dangerous and disarm the person "We have no idea where the guns are," Oates says Police wouldn't know without someone telling them police departments have far more time to investigate if a person who wants to keep a carry permit has recently gotten into a fight with someone at a bar "I would look at the circumstances," he says investigators determined that Arruda had three guns: a shotgun a semiautomatic gun and a semiautomatic M-4 rifle There is a way for authorities to disarm a dangerous person they've had no interactions with It can only work in certain cases and it requires vigilance from people who happen to know when someone with a gun poses an extreme risk or any other persons with contact," Lavigne says In 2018, Rhode Island lawmakers created a process for police to temporarily disarm someone if they receive "credible information" that the danger of that person hurting other people with a gun is "significant" and "imminent." which established "extreme risk protection orders," is Rhode Island's version of what's commonly referred to across the U.S The order restricts the person in question from possessing and acquiring a gun The red flag order is easy for investigators to see during a background check for a gun purchase police must file a petition for the order in court police can take the petition to any Superior Court judge who is available after hours Police must support their petition with a written affidavit signed under oath They can also provide sworn statements from witnesses they must file a sworn affidavit for a search warrant a judge can immediately issue the requested order on a temporary basis The order itself is then given to the particular person "You have the sole responsibility to avoid or refrain from violating this order’s provisions," it says the court has two weeks to schedule a hearing to consider if a one-year extreme risk protection order is necessary "It is important to realize," says Lavigne "that without the cooperation of complaining witnesses or victims it is nearly impossible to proceed with any legal recourse to prohibit persons from possessing firearms." no one came forwardWest Warwick police did have concerning information in their files that about Arruda But that information came from a witness who hadn't been willing to cooperate with a prosecution This can raise questions about credibility although many domestic violence victims are quite credible The age of the teenager's allegations would have posed another issue: How can police assert that someone poses an "imminent" danger if their argument is based solely on information that's 10 years old points out that his department re-investigates if police believe a certain red flag order needs to stay in place after a full year has passed making the case for an extension can be harder the second time around WGEMS and Hianloland T-19 responded to a car fire on Route I-95 South at Weaver Hill Sunday night The incident occurred at approximately 8:51 p.m when the car erupted in flames due to a ruptured fuel tank The fire took approximately an hour to extinguish (WJAR) — West Greenwich police said Friday that a woman is accused of stabbing her boyfriend Police said officers were called to a Lake Drive home at about 9:15 p.m Thursday for a report of a domestic disturbance concluded that an argument had taken place however nothing rose to the level of an arrest," police said in a release "The parties calmed down and agreed to keep the peace for the remainder of the night." But officers were called back to the address about 35 minutes later because of a 911 call Police said a 41-year-old man was stabbed in the chest by his 46-year-old girlfriend The man was treated at Rhode Island Hospital and released The woman was held pending arraignment on charges of felony domestic assault and domestic disorderly conduct "The West Greenwich Police Department has had no previous history at this location or with this couple," the statement said "The female suspect has no previous arrests." Here are some of The Providence Journal's most-read stories for the week of Jan. 5,supported by your subscriptions 2 inside the family's home on Cheyenne Trail For more details, including the earlier felony domestic violence arrest of Nicholas Arruda, read the full story Crime: 'We may never know why': Police release more details in West Greenwich murder PROVIDENCE – Contractors accused of doing shoddy work on the Washington Bridge are relying on flawed legal arguments in hopes of getting the lawsuit against them dismissed according to a response filed by the state on Tuesday The filing does not shed new light on what caused the bridge to fail but it reiterates the state's argument that the companies that inspected the bridge before its emergency closure were negligent and failed to flag "critical deficiencies," as did those hired to work on the repair project that was underway when the problems were found Local news: Washington Bridge contractors want the lawsuit against them dismissed. Here's the state's response. PROVIDENCE – In an effort to increase their pay and improve working conditions and patient care, resident physicians and fellows at Rhode Island Hospital have voted to join a union making them the first doctors in Rhode Island to unionize doctors who've led the effort announced Tuesday night The doctors voted to join the Committee of Interns and Residents for the purpose of collective bargaining with their employer, Brown University Health The Committee of Interns and Residents is the largest such union in the country Brown Health said in a statement: "Brown University Health is grateful to our residents and fellows for their important contributions to delivering high-quality care with empathy and kindness We appreciate all who made their voices heard through this election and look forward to working with CIR in good faith while best serving our patients and communities." Health care: Residents, interns at Rhode Island Hospital are first doctors in RI to join a union PROVIDENCE − In what has become a tradition, the private company that manages operations for the heavily taxpayer-subsidized Rhode Island Convention Center Authority has awarded end-of-year bonuses of up to $40,541 to top staff taxpayers were required to pay $24.9 million to the Convention Center this year to cover debt and operating costs Local news: RI Convention Center staff reap 5-figure bonuses. Here's who got how much. There's one thing most residents of Wickford seem to agree on when it comes to the intersection of Phillips Street Boston Neck Road and Brown Street: It needs work Phillips Street has a stop sign, Boston Neck Road a yield sign and Brown Street no sign at all. The result is “confusion, anxiety and panic” when people come to the intersection, says Lauren Scowcroft, owner of Buttercup Flower and Wine Bar Some have suggested traffic lights while others think simply installing stop signs would solve the issue A 2020 traffic safety study commissioned by the state Department of Transportation concluded that a single-lane “mini roundabout” would have the least impact on traffic at the intersection But many Wickford residents are balking at the idea Read the full story to find out why. Infrastructure: Wickford residents protest installation of proposed roundabout. To read the full stories, go to providencejournal.com. Find out how to subscribe here WEST GREENWICH, R.I. (WLNE) — West Greenwich police released details about Friday’s discovery of four bodies in a home on Cheyanne Trail. Danielle Arruda was seven months pregnant at the time of her death Nicholas Arruda was the father of both Adele and Felix Arruda Officers responded to the home on January 3 to conduct a well-being check after being alerted of Danielle Arruda’s two-day absence from work two vehicles were observed in the home’s driveway Failing to make contact with anyone inside after several attempts a pregnant woman and an adult male were immediately discovered There were no signs of life in any of the victims It was determined that Nicholas Arruda used an M4 type semi-automatic firearm to commit the murders before shooting himself in the head with the same weapon The firearm was lying on the ground in proximity to Nicholas Arruda’s body Nicholas Arruda had one prior felony domestic arrest in 2014 in West Warwick but the case was dismissed after the victim refused to cooperate with police Police are still investigating Nicholas Arruda’s motive in this “heinous crime against his family,” according to a statement (WJAR) — A single bouquet of flowers marks a starkly different scene Saturday night at the West Greenwich home where the bodies of four people were carted out on Friday Everyone who has spoken with NBC 10 News today whether neighbors on Cheyenne Trail or folks from surrounding towns has been utterly heartbroken and disturbed by this case “[T]o hear something this close to home-- that's insane to me,” said Jimmy Collins of Coventry to NBC 10 West Greenwich Police responding to a call for a welfare check by a co-worker of one of the home’s four residents found four people dead inside police have not released the names of any victims-- but neighbors do say the number of people recovered from the home is consistent with the possibly pregnant mother Police said they don’t expect to release new information before sometime next week WEST GREENWICH, R.I. (WLNE) — The West Greenwich Police Department said that four bodies were taken from a house were police have been investigating Friday. The department said that all four bodies appeared to have gunshot wounds Local and state police taped off the area in front of the home on Cheyenne Trail Police arrived at the home around 10:30 a.m for a well-being check when a coworker of one of the residents reported that person did not go to work for two days #Breaking: Police say four bodies were found inside the home Officials have not released any details on the nature of the deaths. @ABC6 — Ryan Medeiros (@RRyanmedeiros) January 3, 2025 adding that there was no danger to the public Officials did not release any further information regarding the nature of the deaths This is a developing story — ABC6 will provide updates as details are released they conducted a traffic stop on Nooseneck Hill Road on a speeding vehicle The driver did not have a valid driver's license and the vehicle was towed West Greenwich police said they found that the driver had a loaded firearm inside the vehicle while interviewing the suspect Authorities said further investigation revealed that the man had been in the area of Hopkins Hill Road in Big River Management area before he was stopped Police said a brush fire had broke out in that area at the time of the suspect’s arrest He admitted to starting a campfire with his friend in that area prior to the traffic stop Police said the man was charged with carrying a pistol or revolver without a permit (WJAR) — West Greenwich police said they have arrested and charged a man after three dogs were seen running near highway last month responded to Burnt Saw Mill Road for a report of three dogs being abandoned on Aug Authorities said the dogs were seen in the area for weeks but could not be captured The three dogs were later rescued with the help of Massachusetts Missing Dogs in early September Police said a West Warwick resident reported that the dogs in question were hers and that a family member had adopted them after she could no longer care for them she said the family member took the dogs to a home in Scituate and then was told by another family member that the dogs were taken to Maine West Greenwich police said they followed up with that family member Boucher said that he left the dogs at the end of Burnt Saw Mill Road along with a bag of food Officials said the was arraigned for three counts of abandonment of animal on Sept Environmental police said they were called to John Potter Road in West Greenwich on Nov. 16 after they received a complaint of illegal trapping activity. According to officials, the caller’s dog had been caught in a trap the night before and there was another deer in a nearby trap. Investigation revealed that Haiming Li, of Hopkinton, had set traps to prevent deer from going into the property owner’s garden, DEM officials said. At the scene, officers said they found two snares with plastic food plates with bait on them. A deer was found dead in one of the snares, according to DEM officials. Authorities said Li admitted to setting the snares and that he had caught and killed another deer a few weeks prior. DEM said Li was charged with 11 counts of ensnarling or baiting a deer. (WJAR) — Firefighters responded to an early morning house fire in West Greenwich on Friday. Crews arrived around 12:30 a.m. at a home on Victory Highway for the fire. According to the West Greenwich Police Department, no one was injured, but a family of five was displaced due to the fire. The police department said a drive has been organized at the West Greenwich Town Hall where clothing and other items can be donated for the family that have lost their belongings. Officials said clothing, general toiletries and more will be accepted at the drive. Police shared the family members' clothing sizes in a Facebook post for reference. The State Fire Marshal office said the fire was accidental and electrical in nature. (WJAR) — West Greenwich fire crews battled a large vehicle fire on Sunday night. The vehicle was in flames on I-95 south at Weaver Hill, according to West Greenwich fire officials. Authorities received a report of the fire at around 8:51 p.m. Fire crews said there was a ruptured fuel tank. The fire was brought under control in an hour. Authorities did not say if anyone was hurt. President Donald Trump makes a major sports announcement. The announcement comes amid reports Washington, D.C. will host the 2027 NFL Draft. WATCHPolice continue to investigate after a family of 4 found dead in West Greenwich by KATIE BENOIT (WJAR) — West Greenwich Police are still investigating four people found dead inside a home last week The tragic discovery was made Friday morning on Cheyenne Trail When they arrived at the home they found four people dead Police have still not said what exactly happened or released the names of the victims We do know police were called to the home on Cheyenne Trail for a well-being check father and two children lived in the home on Cheyenne Trail They say the mother might have been pregnant Neighbors were shaken by the tragedy. So many bad things happen in the world and we are very quiet over here," said Jimmy Collins Police say they are working to learn what happened They expect to release the identity of the victims sometime this week (WLNE) — On January 3 four bodies were found in a home in West Greenwich with what appeared to be gunshot wounds Now officials will hold a press conference to give the public more clarity on what happened at the home on Cheyenne Trail Last Friday morning West Greenwich police were called to conduct a well-being check at a single-story ranch at 15 Cheyenne Trail Police said they were initially called to the home after a coworker of one of the residents called police saying the resident hadn’t shown up for work for several days Detectives went into and out of the house for hours and officials eventually said that four people were found dead inside The police chief says that this is one of the worst scenes he’s ever witnessed “This is probably one of the worst scenes that I’ve had to deal with in this community,” said West Greenwich Police Chief Richard Ramsay officials have not released the identities of the victims or any additional information on the nature of their deaths Police did confirm it was an isolated incident and they’re not looking for any suspects at this time Today’s press conference will be held at 11 a.m WEST GREENWICH − Danielle Arruda was captivated by roosters and hens and chicks The West Greenwich woman liked stationery and pillows and dishes that featured roosters But as New Year's Day 2025 approached and she expected to give birth to her third baby early in the new year "I really think her dream was having the family she had," recalls her cousin For this particular conversation at least, Ruffner Cihat much prefers to talk about how the mother and her two children lived – rather than how they died. Citing support from grieving family members, the 26-year-old shared what she could remember after West Greenwich police revealed the findings of their investigation into the violent deaths of the pregnant 39-year-old and both of her children in their home last week Danielle Arruda's husband, Nicholas Arruda, also 39, shot and killed his family and then himself sometime between 8 p.m providing key findings of their investigation The information answered major questions that had percolated over the course of more than four days after the discovery that the entire family had been found dead in their home on Jan Arruda killed his wife and two children remained elusive and a source of public speculation And Ruffner Cihat doesn't fault people for wondering "I would rather they start talking about who they were as people," she adds She occasionally joined her grandmother for Mass at St Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church in North Kingstown She spent a lot of time helping her grandmother provide day care services She would graduate from North Kingstown High School Nicholas Arruda also went to the same school Ruffner Cihat says she believes Danielle might have known who Nicholas was in high school but she did not become romantic with him until later in life Danielle wasn't really a peer of her younger cousin when she was growing up; she was quite a bit older than Ruffner Cihat The two cousins became pregnant almost at the same time they gave birth to baby daughters within about two months of each other in 2018 That set the stage for a lot of contact between them – and their daughters "She was just a wonderful mother," Ruffner Cihat says More: Trial in murder of pregnant woman found in RI pond starts this week. What to know. in the Lake Mishnock section of West Greenwich who had earned money as a painter in the past He was a bit of a "homebody" who played his guitar and video games Adel reached school age during the pandemic through a structured local program that came with exposure to other teachers via Zoom "He loved the kids more than anything," she recalls Ruffner Cihat describes him as "quirky," but she says she and her family had no concerns about Nicholas Arruda prior to the news reports that shook them to their core last Friday "I just didn't want to believe it," she says She had thought the relationship was solid More: 21st-century tech makes it that much harder for victims to escape abusers. What to know. She acknowledges that her cousin could be private about certain things but she wasn't aware of any major problems in the household She knew her cousin was having trouble with her vehicle She had borrowed a relative's vehicle while she was sorting it out Ruffner Cihat remembers her as a comedian who relished jokes and comedy movies "She was always the light in the room," she says He was almost 3 years old and he already liked Minecraft Felix Arruda and his family visited a number of different houses some of the children played with a balloon Their fun was close enough to an overhead fan to provoke a warning from one of the adults He and his sister were about two months away from meeting a new sibling they didn't know if that sibling would be a sister or a brother (WJAR) — A Cranston man is now facing charges of animal cruelty and abandonment after dropping a pet pig off at the West Greenwich Animal Shelter I actually body clipped her so we could treat her skin," said Wendy Tavares "They just decide to get an animal that they don’t know how to take care of and they bring it to a city where they don’t even allow pigs A police investigation revealed that the man who dropped the pig off was its owner NBC 10 stopped by Farman's house to ask about these accusations "A gentleman reported it that he had found it and brought it here and Later it was found that it wasn’t abandoned it was his and it was just neglected," said Major James Tiernan with the West Greenwich Police Department "He’s being held right now as a violator on some other charges they’re all misdemeanor charges so he’ll get a pre trial date and it’ll go from there." and fortunately she is already in better condition Officials hope to place her in a safer home sometime soon but she has to be an indoor pig for now because she’s never been outside and she’s a little over a year old," said Tavares If you believe an animal is in poor condition or want to find it a better home officials are encouraging people to call their local animal shelter or animal control (WJAR) — A car swerved off of the highway in West Greenwich on I-95 south Wednesday night Police said there were two children in the car The driver was transported to Rhode Island Hospital with minor injuries Officials said both children were not injured but transported to Hasbro Children's Hospital WEST GREENWICH, R.I. (WJAR) — Back on Friday, two adults and two children were displaced after a large house fire on Victory Drive helped launch a clothing drive to support the family “I think the Christmas spirit is broad and I’m glad that they have all of this help,” said Guzeika a firefighter for the Hianloland Fire Company in West Greenwich Guzeika said within hours the clothing drive took off Other people donated gift cards others gave directly to the GoFundMe page “This is why I love this community,” said Guzeika “This is why I volunteer in this community this is why I do the stuff I do because I know that when things are rough we help each other.” Guzeika said that right now the most helpful donations are gift cards ideally to Aldi A GoFundMe to support the family has raised more than $12,000 as of Saturday afternoon (WLNE) — The West Greenwich Police Department said that a 46-year-old woman was arrested after allegedly stabbing her boyfriend during a domestic incident on Feb The woman was charged with felony domestic assault and domestic disorderly conduct Police responded to a residence on Lake Drive around 9:15 p.m A 41-year-old man there told police that he and his girlfriend had gotten into an argument and police left the area after both parties clamed down and he told officers he had stabbed his girlfriend The male was transported to Rhode Island Hospital (WJAR) — Puppies abandoned in the woods of West Greenwich are safe and sound West Greenwich police are now looking for the person who left them to fend for themselves The three puppies were believed to be abandoned at the Big River Management Area in West Greenwich West Greenwich Police and Coventry Animal Control reached out to Missing Dogs Massachusetts on Saturday It's a non-profit organization with a mission to reunite people with their missing dogs Dawn McPhillips and Pam Rizzo showed NBC 10 where they caught the animals where we are now is one of the paths that the dog found comfort in We believe this is where they were sleeping at night," said McPhillips McPhillips said the puppies roamed the forested area for weeks "The community was so concerned about these dogs that I think they were leaving food because once they were trapped I don't believe they were in that bad of condition," said McPhillips "They're coats looked really well McPhillips said they came out to the management area for a briefing on Saturday before getting to work on Sunday We actually saw two of the dogs and by Sunday afternoon we had both dogs trapped safely," said he said One of the girls was still wandering the area after Sunday Rizzo said a motorist saw the puppy lying on the side of the road and called it in "So when we were out here on Monday for hours we thought we were looking for an injured dog ," said Rizzo "But when we saw her on the cameras that we had set up She was up and walking and mobile so we were thrilled for that." The third puppy was brought in on Wednesday The puppies were brought to Coventry Animal Control where they received vet care Coventry Animal Control Officer Matthew McCormick said the friendly bunch may be up for adoption as early as next week They're believed to be anywhere from six to nine months old and are not microchipped Coventry Animal Control stepped in to provide mutual aid for West Greenwich McPhillips said it is a relief they were saved but someone is still responsible for leaving them here "We are hoping that somebody knows something We always ask you can be anonymous when you call," said McPhillips "But it's very important again that if you need help with an animal please reach out to animal control or your local police department." you are asked to contact the West Greenwich Police WEST GREENWICH – A check into the welfare of a West Greenwich resident who had not shown up at work led to the discovery of four bodies at a home on Cheyenne Trail West Greenwich Police Chief Richard Ramsay said he would not release the names of the people who died out of respect for the families Ramsay also said the shootings appeared to be an "isolated incident" and "there is no pending danger to the community." Ramsay said he did not anticipate commenting further on the situation until after the Office of the State Medical Examiners completes its investigation next week with personnel and equipment from the Rhode Island State Police passed away peacefully at the Hope Health Hospice in Providence After graduating from Classical High School John enlisted in the United States Marine Corps serving during the Korean War he went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree from Rhode Island College and later a Master’s Degree from the University of Maine in Orono John was a respected educator teaching Industrial Arts as well as Computer Science at West Warwick High School for over 38 years before retiring.  coached the West Warwick High School Boys Track & Field team during his tenure at the school He also coached at Bryant College and RI College John had a keen interest in coaching his three daughters in the East Greenwich Girls Softball League when they were growing up along with being a caring and dedicated grandfather to his four grandchildren He also enjoyed following the New England professional sports teams.  He was an accomplished pianist and violin player and growing and maintaining his apple trees He liked tinkering and repairing most anything John savored a fine cigar while relaxing on his porch Wainman and her husband Aaron of Fort Myers Green and her husband Michael of West Greenwich John was the brother of Michael Grilli of West Palm Beach Florida; and  the dear uncle to Lisa Ruggierio Relatives and friends are invited to a Committal prayer with military honors at the RI Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Exeter on Thursday Guests may assemble by the main entrance administration buildings at 12:30 pm.  Visiting hours and flowers are respectfully omitted Arrangements are with the Iannotti Funeral Home at MAPLE ROOT in Coventry Image: dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net (WLNE) — An Exeter-West Greenwich High School teacher has passed away suddenly according to the West Greenwich Police Department The announcement of the passing of Lee Stetson was made Tuesday by the department impacting the lives of all that came into contact with him and participating in numerous extra curricular activities Exeter-West Greenwich High School Principal Susan Chandler shared a statement that was sent to school families: I met with all your children this morning to share the very sad and painful news that our school community lost a very beloved teacher last night He had a heart of gold and smile that was shared with anyone he came in contact with There will be support for all students through Exeter-West Greenwich High School (WLNE) — West Greenwich police arrested a man Monday on firearm and arson charges according to a statement from the West Greenwich Police Department Officers conducted a traffic stop Monday on Nooseneck Hill Road after observing the driver speeding The unnamed driver was found to not have a valid driver’s license and the vehicle was towed Police learned while interviewing the driver prior to a tow inventory that he had a loaded revolver in the car and the driver was taken into custody at this time The suspect was also questioned regarding a 3.5 acre brush fire in the Hopkins Hill Road Big River Management Area that occurred prior to the traffic stop The suspect told police that he and friends had started a camp fire in that area earlier that day The suspect is charged with carrying a pistol/revolver without permit He was arraigned and released on surety bail as the investigation continues Pregnant mother of two children shot to death by the male in the home in West Greenwich RI Sources tell us the children were five and two and first responders were visibly shaken at the crime scene they discovered A mother set to give birth to her third child shot to death along with her children The cowardly gunman then took his own life Danielle grew up in North Kingstown RI and maiden name was Cihat Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct the name of the Exeter-West Greenwich player who assisted on the winning goal Raphael maintained its chance at a perfect season and Exeter-West Greenwich worked extra time to seal its own place in the Division III girls soccer final The Saints and Scarlet Knights each won thrillers on Tuesday night at Conley Stadium Raphael came from behind in the second half to edge the Mariners Exeter-West Greenwich used a goal from Hailey Jones in the 84th minute to slip past the Broncos Karina Contreras finally put the Saints ahead to stay as her thumping right-footed finish snapped a 2-2 tie in the 73rd minute Kamarie Cosme added some late insurance off a corner kick as St Raphael won its 20th straight league match and defended its top seed all the way to Saturday’s 4 p.m and I think over every single game we’ve just connected more.”  More: BRACKET CHALLENGE: Which RI high school has the best team logo? Vote in Final 4 now! Jones struck for the Scarlet Knights after they conceded a late equalizer in regulation Ava LaFauci capitalized on a defensive mistake to pull Burrillville level at 2-2 in the 75th minute and a pair of five-minute periods awaited before the possibility of penalty kicks Jones avoided stretching the drama to the limit firing home a kick with her left foot after a long pass from Alexandra Renzi especially watching from a striker’s point of view,” Jones said The Mariners (10-6-2) used an early goal from Anabella Radom and a superb performance from keeper Grace Blessing to take a 1-0 edge into the break Gabriela Cuellar and Alexa Soler-Fernandez gave the Saints (20-0-0) a 2-1 lead in the opening 10 minutes of the second half but Delaney Bonneau’s free kick brought Narragansett back level at 2-2 Contreras popped up with a goal just in time squeezing into some space on the left side and blasting a short pass from Cosme into the top corner The Broncos (12-4-4) sandwiched their two goals around a pair from Exeter-West Greenwich (13-4-3) Janessa McKay headed home a corner kick in the third minute and LaFauci’s late heroics added some tension to the second semifinal The Scarlet Knights scored twice just six minutes apart in the first half to build a lead with Ariana DiBernardo deflecting home a free kick and Riley Moulton hitting the far corner with a curling shot from the right wing “We kind of just tried to build our confidence up,” Jones said of the late turnaround The two finalists were both under .500 in 2023 and they’ve completed a long trip to the season’s last day at Alumni Field The Saints were the Division III runner-up in the 2021 final and Exeter-West Greenwich captured the last of its three straight Division II crowns in 2012 Raphael pulled out the lone meeting this season “It’s very hard to get everyone fired up,” Contreras said “I think we have a chance at beating them,” Jones said “We just have to play our best and believe in ourselves.”  EXETER-WEST GREENWICH (3): Ariana DiBernardo A brush fire broke out on Route 95 south in West Greenwich Wednesday morning Officials said the fire was between exits 14 and 18 Firefighters from Exeter were called to help assist The Department of Environmental Management said the fire spanned around 1.6 acres (WJAR) — A popular Rhode Island Halloween attraction will not be returning this season Field of Screams made the announcement that it was closing on Facebook Staff said it will be closed in 2024 and for the foreseeable future and it was it was exciting," said owner Tim Leyden The haunted hayride started as a side gig for the 125-acre family farm but over time "This is the time where normally building and right now I'm very relaxed," said Leyden He said the Field of Screams became too much to juggle with his nursery business "My focus now has to be on one entity and not the many entities that I had in the past," said Leyden The decision to close is hitting hard on visitors who expected another lifetime of scares He credits the haunted hayride with keeping them afloat "We can now say we're a true operating And Big John would be very proud of us.," said Leyden Big John's will continue to bask in the Christmas spirit NBC 10's Leanna Faulk contributed to this report (WJAR) — Construction work is starting for a new Rhode Island State Police facility on New London Turnpike The nearly $41.5 million dollar Southern Public Safety Complex will replace the Wickford and Hope Valley barracks "I'm extremely pleased this project was a long time coming," RISP Col "Its more effective to house them under one single building." The Wickford and Hope Valley barracks were built in the 1930s and recently have been dealing with issues like lead and asbestos "I toured the facilities that they're using right now and it's not safe in many respects," Governor Dan McKee said "Those buildings were never intended to be utilized with modern day policing," Weaver said The Hope Valley Barracks is about a mile away from the highway The new headquarters for the southern half of the state provides easy access to Interstate 95 The 35,000 square foot facility is expected to be done in June of 2026 Approximately 80 troopers will be stationed there NBC 10's Katie Benoit contributed to this report (WLNE) — Local and state police taped off the area in front of a home on Cheyenne Trail Friday afternoon West Greenwich police chief Richard Ramsay told ABC6 news crews on scene his agency is in the beginning of its investigation He expects to share more information at a later time Update: West Greenwich police chief spoke at the scene on Cheyenne Trail, there is no threat to the public. @ABC6 pic.twitter.com/t74UWDG98U — Justin P (@JustinPABC6) January 3, 2025 Police have set up crime scene tape outside of a home on Cheyenne Trail in West Greenwich. Waiting for additional details from PD. @ABC6 pic.twitter.com/xcnUyAGij4 — Justin P (@JustinPABC6) January 3, 2025 This is a developing story and will be updated Rhode Island Environmental police officers announced they are on high alert for poaching activity as deer season continues Officials said a West Greenwich resident reported their dog was caught in an illegal snare that was set on private property two more sets of traps were discovered on the property Police said they took one person into custody The unidentified person was issued a summons for several violations (WLNE) — Firefighters battled multiple brush fires in both directions on 95 in West Greenwich this morning The Rhode Island Department of Transportation cameras showed traffic backed up for miles Special Signal Fire Association / Providence Canteen shared photos from the scene This is a developing story – stay with ABC6 for updates