Man indicted for 1999 Providence cold case murder

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A Providence man has been charged with the 1999 murder of Kathleen O’Dowd Boleman. 

Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez and Attorney General Peter Neronha said 53-year-old Kevin Williams was charged with murder.

A warrant was issued for the defendant on April 16, and he was arraigned the following day in Providence County Superior Court.

Following the arraignment, Williams was also charged with violating a domestic no-contact order that was issued in a pending domestic violence case.

Williams is alleged to have strangled 41-year-old O’Dowd Boleman behind Roger Williams Middle School.

In a statement, Perez said:

“I commend the outstanding work conducted by Providence Police Detectives into this cold case investigation and holding the defendant accountable for this violent criminal act. I thank Detective Angelo Avant for leading this tedious investigation and also Assistant Attorney General Jim Baum for his support and ongoing commitment to public safety.”

In a statement, Neronha said:

“The passage of time does little to lessen the pain felt by those who have lost a loved one at the hands of another, particularly when such crimes go unsolved for many years. Remarkably, 25 years have passed between the day Kathleen O’Dowd Boleman was murdered and this indictment. Today marks a major step towards obtaining justice for the victim and her family. I am grateful to the Providence Police Department and Detective Avant, whose persistence and diligent efforts, in partnership with this Office, have brought us to this place today.”

The defendant is currently being held without bail.