Rhode Island Pair Arraigned on Murder Charges

April 5, 2012
WESTBOROUGH — Two Rhode Island residents are being held without bail after being arraigned today in Westborough District Court for murder in the death of a 19-year-old Worcester man, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.

Lara Cori, 22, and James Howze, 19, both of 37 Harvard Ave., Providence, RI, are charged with the murder of Joseph P. Webster of 104 Brattle St., Worcester, who was last seen on March 13 at the Motel 6 on Route 9, Northborough.

Judge Vito A. Virzi continued both cases to May 2.

A Rhode Island State Police K-9 unit discovered Mr. Webster’s body on Tuesday in a storage container on Wesleyan Avenue in Providence, not far from where the suspects lived.

After the Rhode Island Chief Medical Examiner positively identified the body as that of Mr. Webster and determined the death a homicide on Wednesday, the defendants were each charged with murder.

Ms. Cori and Mr. Howze also face additional            

charges related to the death of Mr. Webster. She was indicted last week and arraigned in Worcester Superior Court on Monday on charges of armed robbery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, larceny of a motor vehicle and armed assault with intent to murder.

After the arraignments in Westborough, Cori was ordered held without bail by Judge James R. Lemire in Worcester Superior Court. A dangerousness hearing for Ms. Cori, had been scheduled for today in connection with the Superior Court charges. That hearing was not held. Her Superior Court case was continued to May 3.

Mr. Howze had been arraigned on Monday in Westborough District Court on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (knife) and larceny of a motor vehicle.

State Police Detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office, State Police K-9, State Police Air Wing, and State Police Chemists along with police in Colonie, Providence, Cranston, RI, and Northborough worked on the investigation, which is continuing.

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