Forensic genealogy helps Warwick Police find suspect in City Park killing

WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) – The suspect in Jack Fay’s killing faced a judge Wednesday morning, charged with first degree murder.

Police say 33-year-old Michael Soares of Pawtucket beat and stabbed Fay to death at 4:30 one May morning in 2013 while Fay was out for his daily jog in Warwick City Park.

“He suffered blunt force trauma from a 2.5 pound hammer left at the scene,” said Warwick Police Captain Joseph Hopkins.

Fay’s body was left in a nearby trash can.

Using DNA evidence found on Fay’s body, the murder weapon, and the trash can, police created a composite image of a suspect, but weren’t able to narrow it down.

Last year, they uploaded the DNA evidence to a genealogy firm called ‘Identifinders International’.

Soares matched the DNA.

Fay’s family says they want their father to be remembered for the smart, intelligent man he was.

Soares is due back in court later this month. Police are asking anyone who knew Soares in May of 2013 to contact them.

(C)WLNE-TV 2019