Bristol woman sentenced for murdering boyfriend’s grandmother

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A Bristol woman has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for murdering her boyfriend’s 62-year-old grandmother in 2017.

Selena Martinez, 28, murdered Eudora Gustafson in her Sowams Drive home by asphyxiation before robbing her to obtain money for drugs, according to Attorney General Peter F. Neronha’s office.

Martinez had recently used heroin, and wanted money to buy additional heroin.

Gustafson was lying on the couch in her living room when Martinez attacked her to obtain her car keys.

Martinez then restrained the victim while her boyfriend, co-defendant Raymond Paiva IV, 30, covered Gustafson’s head with a pillow and a trash bag while tying the drawstring of the bag around her neck.

The defendants then stole Gustafson’s rings and other jewelry from a safe, half-dollar coins and her checkbook before fleeing in her car.

The defendants then pawned the jewelry at a pawn shop in North Providence and bought heroin in Providence.

Martinez was arrested by Providence police shortly after.

The investigation used DNA evidence linking Martinez to the trash bag.

Martinez entered a guilty plea on Jan. 19 to one count of second-degree murder, one count of conspiracy to commit murder, four counts of receiving stolen goods (less than $1,500), one count of forgery, and one count of obtaining property under false pretenses (less than $1,500).

Paiva was sentenced to 60 years with 20 years suspended, 40 to serve at the ACI in September, 2023.

“The Bristol Police Department works tirelessly to hold accountable those who perpetrate senseless acts of violence in order to keep our communities safe,” said Bristol Police Chief Kevin M. Lynch.