Johnston Police investigate deadly domestic violence incident involving father, daughter
By: News Staff
Email: news@abc6.com
JOHNSTON, R.I. – Police in Johnston are investigating a case of domestic violence that Authorities responded to a Bishop Hill Road home to find Jessica Sutherland, 28, shot and lying in the grass. She later died.
Authorities found her father Robert Sutherland, 55, nearby. He had been stabbed. He is expected to survive and will be taken in for police interviews once he is out of the hospital.
Family members who saw the incident are also being questioned.
Neighbors tell ABC6 News Robert Sutherland is ex-military, describing he and his wife as great people. Neighbors also say the couple has custody of Jessica Sutherland’s daughter – their granddaughter.
"It’s so sad because on Christmas Eve, everyone should be celebrating," said Sandra Hamlin, a neighbor. "The mother was just sitting on her front porch and appeared to me to be in shock, but she had blood all over her and was sitting on the stairs."
Police had arrested Jessica, who lives in Providence, a few days before the incident, according to authorities. She had been visiting her parents for Christmas.
Although neighbors would not get into specifics, many believed Jessica Sutherland had some form of mental illness. "She talked to my brother once, came over randomly and just knocked on the door," said neighbor Richard Hamlin. "We found out later from her father that she had issues, and he told that to my brother and apologized for it."
"Domestic violence is an issue we deal with every day in police and fire,” explained Johnston Police Deputy Chief Daniel Parrillo. “In society in general, it makes it more sad because it is Christmas Eve, but it’s something that we strive to curb on a daily basis as a police department."
Police don’t know yet who the gun belonged to or what sparked the incident. They did say they have responded to this home before for domestic incidents between the father and daughter.
The Attorney General’s office will also be involved in this investigation. No charges have been filed.
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