Rhode Island man dies in police chase after being accused of murdering his wife

HOPKINTON, R.I. – A man wanted for the murder of his wife died over the weekend when his Suburban rolled over during a chase, Rhode Island State Police said in a statement.

On Friday, an arrest warrant was issued for Joseph Francis in the death of his wife, Stephanie Francis, whose body was found with a gunshot wound in their home in Hopkinton, Rhode Island. On Saturday, Westerly police spotted Joseph Francis driving and unsuccessfully attempted to pull him over.

About an hour later, officers from the Richmond and Charlestown police departments attempted to stop Francis again. During this chase, Francis failed to negotiate a turn, rolled several times, and came to a stop near a wooded area. Police approached the vehicle and found Francis dead inside.

Francis, who was wanted on charges of domestic violence and murder as well as domestic violence and violation of restraining order, was previously charged with assaulting his wife in May, according to a Hopkinton police report. In that case, he was charged with disturbing the peace, domestic violence and domestic assault for allegedly pushing her, smashing her phone and yelling at her.

He was also charged with violating a state law banning high-capacity magazines after police seized two handguns and several loaded high-capacity magazines, and was issued with an injunction barring him from contacting his wife.