WEST GREENWICH, RI — In a heart-wrenching incident, Danielle Arruda, a 39-year-old pregnant mother of two from West Greenwich, Rhode Island, was found dead alongside her children in what authorities describe as a murder-suicide carried out by her husband on Friday, January 3, 2025.
Local police were dispatched to the Arruda family home on 15 Cheyenne Trail following a welfare check request after Danielle failed to appear at work for several days. Upon arrival, officers encountered a scene of devastation; all four family members, including Arruda’s unborn child, had been killed by gunshot wounds, with the husband believed to have then turned the gun on himself.
Danielle Arruda was recognized in the community as an escrow officer and closing paralegal at Marinosci Law Group, where she had been employed since March 2023, specializing in real estate dealings. Before that, she served as an escrow closer at Liberty Title & Escrow Co. in Warwick since September 2016. Her career also included roles as a closing officer at Embrace Home Loans in Newport, RI, and as a pharmacy technician with CVS Caremark.
The exact timeline of the tragedy remains under investigation, but it’s speculated that the incident might have occurred anytime within the ten days Danielle was absent from work. The home, where the family lived, is described as a modest two-bedroom, one-bathroom property valued at approximately $385,000.
West Greenwich Police Chief Richard Ramsay has withheld the names of the victims out of respect for the grieving families, but confirmed the involvement of the Rhode Island State Police in the ongoing investigation.
This incident has shocked the small town of West Greenwich, known for its close-knit community, and has cast a somber mood over the start of the new year. The community now mourns the loss of a family, highlighting once again the dark side of domestic violence that can lead to such devastating outcomes.
The investigation continues as the community seeks answers and closure in this profoundly sad case.