Accused Murderer Brian Audette Assigned Public Defender

Brian Audette, 43, of 307 Elm St., Warwick, the man charged with murdering Donna Pike, 57, appeared in Sixth District Court Thursday for a determination of attorney, where he was assigned a public defender.

Attorney Mary S. McElroy will defend Audette, who is being held without bail and will next show in court on April 25 for a probation violation hearing. At the time of his arrest, Audette was serving 12 years probation for a 1999 first degree robbery conviction, according to Amy Kempe, public information officer for Attorney General Peter Kilmartin's office. Should he fail to defend himself on that violation, he could be ordered to serve the balance of his sentence (12 years) before the process is begun on hearing the murder charge against him, Kempe said.

After the violation hearing, the Providence County Grand Jury will determine whether to indict Audette. In the event of an indictment, his case will next be sent to Superior Court.

When police were called to Pike's home at 79 Rathbun St., Apt. 3 to check on her by a worried landlord April 8 at about 7:30 p.m., they found Pike dead.

Police also found Pike's cell phone, and researched every outgoing and incoming phone number. Among them was Audette's number, said Woonsocket Police Public Information Officer Jamie Paone. Pike, who had just moved to the city a few months ago, had known Audette for some time, Paone said. 

Paone was not able to disclose why, but their investigation led them to suspect Audette had killed Pike. 

Paone said detectives learned Audette had been in contact with Warwick Police and was being treated at Kent Hospital, where they were able to locate and arrest him. He was charged with first degree murder and arraigned in District Court on April 11.

The Woonsocket Police Department was assisted during the investigation by New England State Police Information Network (NESPIN), The Rhode Island Fusion Center, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Rhode Island State Police Computer Crimes Unit, Warwick Police Department, and the Rhode Island Attorney Generals Office.