Assisted living beating murder suspect to face 48th scheduled arraignment

WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) — The suspect in a 2012 beating death at an assisted living facility is scheduled to be arraigned on murder charges Tuesday morning.

This will be the 48th scheduled arraignment for 67-year-old Domenic Petrarca for the charge.

Petrarca was arrested in October 2012 for allegedly killing 61-year-old Joseph Costa, a fellow resident of the Summer Villa assisted living facility in Coventry.

Police say, Petrarca used his fist and two objects when he attacked Costa in the facility’s backyard smoking area.

Petrarca faces one felony murder charge.

Since September of 2013, he has not been arraigned on the case, either due to competency hearings, motions to dismiss, attorney changes or failure to appear.

As it stands on the court docket this morning, Petrarca will be arraigned at 9:30 a.m. at Kent County Superior Court, followed by a competency report.