WARWICK – The remains of a Warwick woman who was killed were found in Exeter earlier this week and a local man has been charged with murder in her death, according to Warwick police.
Medical examiners linked the survivors to Charlotte Lester, Warwick police chief, Col. Brad Connor, said late Wednesday morning.
Following the discovery, Mark Perkins was arrested early Wednesday morning and charged, Connor said.
Connor, who is not in the county, said he did not know the exact location in Exeter where Lester’s remains were found.
Stressing that more information should be available later today, Connor said Lester’s remains were removed from the site by state police.
Lester was reported missing in May 2022.
Perkins’ friendship with Lester fueled speculation about his involvement in her disappearance.
During the summer of 2022, Perkins, of 29 Staples Ave., was charged with assault, criminal mischief, vandalism and disorderly conduct after an argument with John DePetro.
Charlotte Lester, seen here in an undated photo provided by family, is the missing woman from Warwick.
Charlotte Lester is missing from Warwick 2022
Lester was last seen around 10 p.m. on Monday, May 16, 2022, according to a news release from Warwick. Lester was spotted in the Apponaug marina area, Wilson says. About two days later, Chloe was found abandoned near Belmont Park, off Elmwood Avenue.
Lester was reported missing to the police on Thursday, May 19.
The truck he was driving, a Toyota Tacoma, ended up parked at Kent Hospital the following week. A police search in the Arnold’s Neck neighborhood drew attention to a house Lester frequented. The house was a source of speculation about the mystery in the local media, including social media.
In May 2023 Warwick Police Detective Capt. John McAniff said, “We’re still working it out.”
‘It was the life he chose’
Lester grew up in Massachusetts, attending Miss Hall’s Academy in Pittsfield and Natick High School.
She became a mother and had three children, says Wilson, who avoids any discussion, saying the family wants them to stay out of the public eye.
This is a developing story. More will come.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Man charged after Charlotte Lester’s remains found in Exeter