Providence police speak on arrests made in double homicide case

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) –Providence police held a press conference Thursday afternoon offering updates on two major arrests in a double homicide case, and an update on the death of a 5-year-old girl at Roger Williams Park.

Dozens of officers raided a home in Warwick searching for a suspect early Thursday morning. Police in Norton, Massachusetts, searched for a second subject.

The raids led up to the arrests of two men, Miguel Perez and Tyler Freeman, in connection to a double homicide on Hathaway Street in Providence back in October.

Both men are expected to face first-degree murder charges when they’re arraigned on Friday.

“This investigation is solid,” said Maj. David Lapatin. “We believe that we’ve got one shot at this. We’ll put all our evidence together, bring it to court, we’re going to make sure it’s done right. By tomorrow, it’ll be done right and brought to court, and then we can talk tomorrow.”

Police say the men knew the victims, 29-year-old Brian Fernandez and 30-year-old Sreylakh Ros.

They also believe Perez is the same man who was convicted of burglary, conspiracy, weapons, and assault charges after a 2014 home invasion.

In that case, two victims were tied up in their home and shot.

Perez was sentenced to 20 years at the time, but police think he was paroled a few years ago.

Despite that history, police said Thursday’s arrests went smoothly.

“It was well prepared because that’s what we do,” Chief Oscar Perez said. “When it comes to high-risk individuals that we’re looking for, we’re prepared, we plan accordingly, and that’s what the Providence Police Department does.”

Police also provided updates on an early morning search for a 5-year-old girl at the Swan Boat Pond at Roger Williams Park.

That girl was reported missing after she left her house Wednesday night.

She later died at Hasbro Children’s Hospital.

“So, I’ll tell you this…let the family grieve,” Perez said. “The last thing I want to do is say something that is inappropriate for a family member. I’ll tell you this, we feel very sorry about the loss of this child for their family.”

The family of that little girl held a candlelight vigil Thursday night at the Temple to Music in the park.

“We don’t know what happened, only God knows what. But can you imagine what she went through…freezing last night? It’s sad… but we’re going to make it, with God on our side we’re going to make it,” the girl’s aunt, Fatu Cooper, said.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families is investigating the case, but tells ABC 6 News it had no previous interactions with the family.