Matthew Norman Dusseault, 21, was arrested on July 18, 2018 and charged with first-degree murder in the death of 81-year-old Constance Gaultier in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Gaultier was stabbed to death in her home on March 23, 2016. There were 76 stab wounds on her head and upper body. She was found under the mattress in her bedroom, which was covered in blood spatter. Tyler Grenon, 20, a neighbour of Gaultier’s who discovered her body, was originally arrested on murder and conspiracy charges as well, but these were later dismissed for lack of evidence.
The DNA profiles were reportedly obtained from touch DNA, or skin cells, making this one of the few FGG cases to use touch DNA to generate a suspect’s profile. The FGG investigation was conducted by Parabon Nanolabs.
Dusseault pled not guilty, and is being held without bail. His case is pending in the Providence County Superior Court.
Sources:
Buteau, Walt. “Bail Hearing Chronicles Twists and Turns of Grisly Murder.” WRPI 12 News, December 9, 2019. Accessed December 13, 2020. https://www.wpri.com/target-12/bail-hearing-chronicles-twists-and-turns-of-grisly-murder/.
Linton, David. “Suspect Who Had Implicated Attleboro Man Pleads Innocent to Woonsocket Murder.” The Sun Chronicle, January 31, 2019. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/suspect-who-had-implicated-attleboro-man-pleads-innocent-to-woonsocket-murder/article_97ee0c80-4dbc-5fd4-b8a3-6fb84ac88823.html.
Milkovits, Amanda. “How DNA and a Tattoo Led to Charges in Cold R.I. Murder Case.” Providence Journal, July 27, 2018. https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20180727/how-dna-and-tattoo-led-to-charges-in-cold-ri-murder-case.
Olivo, Russ. “Judge to Dusseault Dad: Keep Away.” Woonsocket Call, December 19, 2019. https://www.pressreader.com/usa/woonsocket-call/20191219/281487868248267.
Towne, Shaun, and Walt Buteau. “Arrests Made in Murder of Woonsocket Woman, 81.” WPRI News, July 18, 2018, last updated July 19, 2018. https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/blackstone-valley/arrests-made-in-murder-of-woonsocket-woman-81/1309532333/.