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« Weather update: Flood watch for tomorrow | Today | Celona reports to prison a day early » March 1, 2007Firefighters found gas cans in missing woman's homeSOUTH KINGSTOWN — The police found two gasoline cans in a Kingston professor’s home the night a fire destroyed the building on the edge of the University of Rhode Island campus, say documents filed in District Court today. The gas cans were found last Thursday, shortly after 9 p.m., as firefighters tried to quell flames tearing through the home of Joseph P. Matoney, a URI accounting professor, and his wife, Adrianne Lynn Matoney, a former URI employee. Firefighters also noticed the “strong odor” of a petroleum-based substance, said police Sgt. Joel Ewing-Chow, who asked Judge William C. Clifton to allow police to search the house. Firefighters removed one of the cans and gave it to the police. Ewing-Chow spoke to Joseph’s son, Daniel, about the gas cans the night of the fire, according to search warrants returned to District Court. “He indicated that there never were nor should there by any gas cans in the living area of the residence,” the warrants say. Police Capt. Jeffrey Allen said today the gas cans were clearly “out of the ordinary. It’s not normal for gas cans to be in the living room,” he said. -- Journal staff writer Paul Davis Professor Matoney found his home on fire after returning from a class that night. Worried that his wife might be inside, he said he entered the home but was forced out by the fire and smoke. Firefighters found no one inside. That night, Matoney declined to be formally interviewed by Ewing-Chow and requested an attorney, police say. According to court documents, Matoney’s wife was the last person reported in the house. Hours after the fire – around 3:30 a.m. on Friday morning – her car was discovered parked and locked on the Sakonnet River Bridge. The discovery sparked a three-day search of the area by the police, the state Fire Marshal’s Office and the Coast Guard. Search crews found no one, and the 58-year-old mother of three is still missing, Allen said. -- Journal staff writer Paul Davis Posted by Andrea Panciera CommentsPost a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006