Woonsocket sisters charged in father’s murder plead not guilty, held without bail

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Woonsocket sisters accused of killing their father earlier this year were ordered held without bail at their arraignment Wednesday.

Danielle and Jennifer Pamula, 38, both pleaded not guilty to first degree domestic murder and conspiracy charges in the death of 70-year-old Joseph Pamula in January.

They also face an animal cruelty charge.

The twin sisters have appeared in court many times since their father was found dead at the family’s Cato Street home on Jan. 30.

Danielle Pamula is seen in Providence Superior Court, Wednesday, July 26, 2023. (WLNE)

An affidavit showed that Danielle was the one who called Woonsocket police that evening.

Officers found Joseph dead with a pair of garden shears in his neck. They reportedly found Jennifer covered in blood.

Danielle told police she had just woken up from a nap when she called for help.

Jennifer was charged days later. Danielle wasn’t charged for nearly two months.

This is a still image from video evidence footage of the Cato Street home in Woonsocket where 70-year-old Joseph Pamula was found murdered on Jan. 30, 2023. (WLNE)

The details of the case included there may have been an ongoing feud about unsafe clutter throughout the house and the twin’s cats.

Prosecutors said in April that the house was in deplorable condition. The cats were kept in stacked cages that were also not properly cleaned after.

An hour-long video of Jennifer being questioned by police was played in court.

In the video, Jennifer claimed their father threatened to get rid of the cats and wanted the clutter cleared away so that he could sell the house.

The sisters are due back in court in September.