2 Fugitive Murder Suspects Held Overnight in New London

Written By MARK SCHIELDROP (Patch Staff); originally posted on Newport Patch

NEWPORT, RI—A Newport woman and a Providence man arrested after a police chase in Connecticut will soon return to Rhode Island to face murder charges for the alleged killing of a South Carolina man at a Middletown, R.I., hotel on Tuesday.

But questions remain about how Mark J. Lussier, 51, of Mount Pleasant, SC, ended up dead and partially submerged in a bathtub at the Quality Inn on West Main Road and why he was with Lavern Price, 49, of Newport and Todd Sullo, 41, of Providence before he was murdered.

Middletown, R.I. Police Lt. Jason Ryan at a Friday press conference did not reveal many details about the homicide investigation beyond what police released on Thursday: Lussier was discovered in the room by hotel staff who called police at around 3:48 p.m. on Tuesday and Price and Sullo were identified as suspects by police after detectives learned they were at the hotel with the victim.

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The couple was tracked as they left New York City in the victim's car and apprehended after they crashed on Interstate 95 with members of the Connecticut State Police on their tail.

Both were held overnight to be arraigned on fugitive from justice charges in New London, Conn., Ryan said, and would be extradited to Rhode Island to face charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy.

Russo is also facing charges of reckless driving, obstruction and motor vehicle theft from Connecticut police.

Ryan said that the discovery of Lussier's body was not initially deemed suspicious but the results of an autopsy showed his death was a homicide. As the investigation switched gears, Ryan said, detectives worked quickly to find Sullo and Price and their prompt arrest was the result of strong cooperation between multiple agencies.

"I would also like to thank the hard work by the men and women of the Middletown Police Department for their professionalism. . . investigating this crime," Ryan said.

Ryan also expressed condolences to the Lussier's family, saying he hoped that "with the apprehension you are able to find closure and comfort."

Ryan would not elaborate on any other details about the investigation, including a possible motive, the circumstances that led to Lussier being in the same room with Price and Sullo or the cause of Lussier's death.

Andrea Bagnall Degos, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Health, said the state Medical Examiner has not yet determined a cause of death.

Photos by MARK SCHIELDROP