2025 Year in Review: Tragedy, Controversy, and Resilience in Southern New England
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The year 2025 in Southern New England was headlined by political controversy, chaos in the courts, and unfathomable tragedy.
Tragedy and Loss
The region was shaken to its core by a mass shooting at Brown University that left two students dead and nine others injured. The ensuing manhunt lasted nearly a week, ending only when the gunman was found dead in New Hampshire.
Tragedy struck again in West Greenwich, where a man murdered his wife and two children before taking his own life. West Greenwich Police Chief Richard Ramsay described the scene as one of the worst in his 35-year career.
The year’s highest death toll in a single tragedy occurred across the state line in Fall River, Massachusetts. Ten people were killed when flames ripped through the Gabriel House assisted living facility. Fire officials said heroic rescues prevented an even worse outcome, while detectives continue to investigate whether a faulty oxygen tank or a discarded cigarette sparked the blaze.
Legal Battles and Trials
It was a challenging year for investigators in Bristol County as the search for missing Rehoboth teenager Kylee Monteiro ended in heartbreak. Gregory Groom currently awaits trial on murder charges in a case that drew national attention.
However, no local case generated as much buzz as the retrial of Karen Read. In a trial that gripped the nation, the Mansfield native was found not guilty of murder in the death of John O’Keefe.
“I could not be standing here without these amazing supporters,” Read said following the verdict. “Who have supported me and my team financially and, more importantly, emotionally.”
Political Discourse and Transitions
Collective heartbreak was felt across the region as people worldwide mourned the death of Judge Frank Caprio. The beloved judge passed away following a battle with pancreatic cancer, leaving a legacy of kindness that drew mourners from across the globe.
Political tensions also flared as federal agents made their presence felt across the Ocean State. Thousands participated in nationwide “No Kings” protests against the Trump administration.
In state news, RIDOT Director Peter Alviti faced fiery hearings on Smith Hill regarding the Washington Bridge. While the westbound side of the bridge is now largely demolished, the state continues to sue contractors over the shutdown.
Rhode Island also faced an economic blow when Hasbro announced it would move its longtime Pawtucket headquarters to Boston.
Milestones and Resilience
Despite the departures, 2025 saw new beginnings. Rhode Island FC brought professional sports back to Pawtucket, March Madness took over the Amica Mutual Pavilion, and Providence even welcomed a new bishop.
After years of anticipation, the South Coast Rail line to Boston finally opened.
The year in transportation was also marked by catastrophe. Communities in Barrington and Mansfield continue to mourn two figure skaters and their mothers killed in a D.C. plane crash, while a jet crash on Interstate 195 in Dartmouth claimed the lives of a Middletown couple.
That jet crash was the second major blow to the Aquidneck Island community, still reeling after a teenage girl was killed in a stairway collapse during a graduation ceremony in Portsmouth.
Through the adversity, Southern New England proved resilient. The Matunuck Oyster Bar bounced back from a devastating fire, and two heartwarming reunions offered reason for optimism: a missing dog in West Warwick returned home and a military K-9 in Seekonk reunited with his handler after years apart.
