Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Amanda Milkovits,
Tatiana Pina
and
Thomas J. Morgan
Journal Staff Writers

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A soldier from Providence was ordered held on $50,000 bail today after he was brought to District Court on a charge of murder.

Richard Reyes-Tavares, 20, stands accused of killing Betsy Rodríguez, 22.

Judge Michael A. Higgins set bail at $50,000.

State Rep. Peter John Petrarca, who represented Reyes-Tavares, said after the court appearance that Rodriguez's slaying had been an accident. He said he had not had a chance to interview his client in depth or speak with his family. He said he did not know his client's army rank.

The police said Reyes-Tavares and Rodriguez were in a relationship and had a child together.

The police say that Rodríguez and Reyes-Tavares were in a car in his mother's driveway at 165 Wendell St. yesterday when a .40-caliber gun went off. She was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where she later died.

The police have seized the gun.

Providence Journal photo / Kathy Borchers

 Tags  murder Providence Rhode Island Hospital

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