UPDATE: Extradition Waived for Massachusetts Murder Suspect

A woman who has lived for the past year in Narragansett has been indicted for the murder of her wife in Massachusetts Wednesday and arrested by members of the Narragansett Police Department.

The woman is Cara L. Rintala, 45, formerly of 18 Barton St., Granby, MA, and now of 31 Durkin Drive, Narragansett. She is accused of killing her wife, Annamarie Rintala, who was 37 at the time.

Rintala was scheduled for an extradition hearing in Washington County Superior Court today.

According to a release from the office of Northwestern, MA District Attorney David E. Sullivan, on the night of March 29, 2010, Granby police discovered Annamarie’s body in the basement with obvious signs of trauma. They were called to the house by a neighbor.

Her homicide was investigated by the Massachusetts State Police Detectives Unit, led by lead case officer Jamie Magarian, and the Granby Police Department, led by case officer Sgt. Mark Smith.  Both were present as Rintala was taken into custody by several members of the Narragansett Police Department, including Det. Sgt. Matthew Sutton, Det. Sean Klaboe and Det. Ryan Prest. 

According to Narragansett Police Det. Lt. Sean Corrigan, Rintala had been living with family on Fox Drive, but recently moved to 31 Durkin Drive. Narragansett police were notified of her presence in town last year because of the ongoing investigation of her.

Corrigan said that after Massachusetts officials notified them of the indictment and the warrant out for her arrest, they began surveillance of her residence. About 10 minutes later, shortly before 5 p.m., she was arrested without incident on Clarke Road following a traffic stop.

She was arraigned at Narragansett Police Headquarters and transported to the ACI to await an extradition hearing today. Lt. Scott Perrin is handling the arraignment at Superior Court, but Corrigan said they expected Rintala to waive extradition, and to respond to the charges against her in Massachusetts.

Sullivan’s office released the following statement about the arrest:

• “Today’s indictment and arrest of Cara Rintala for the March 29, 2010 murder of Annamarie Rintala represents the culmination of an exhaustive and persistent investigation by the Massachusetts State Police Detectives Unit assigned to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office in collaboration with the Granby Police Department," Sullivan said. “"We hope that today’s developments bring some small degree of solace to the Cochrane family, who have remained steadfast in their patient pursuit of justice.”

According to online court records, Rintala has not ever been arrested in Rhode Island. According to online property records, Rintala does not own property in town.

For a more exhaustive look at the story, check out the coverage here from The Daily Hampshire Gazette. In that story, Rintala’s attorney denies the charges against her.

11:45 a.m. – Appearing in Fourth Division District Court shortly after 11:15 a.m. with Rhode Island attorney Robert B. Mann, Rintala waived her right to an extradition hearing and agreed to be transferred to Massachusetts police custody.

Rintala, wearing a blue raincoat with a white stripe in the middle, did not comment except for answers to questions posed by District Court Associate Judge Mary E. McCaffrey.

Special Assistant Attorney General Amy Dodge, representing the state of Rhode Island, said that Massachusetts officials planned to pick up Rintala later in the day.

“They have indicated they are coming to pick up the defendant later this afternoon,” she said.

The only objection raised by Mann was over the charge against Rintala, noting that she was not a fugitive from justice – she had properly moved to Rhode Island more than a year ago. McCaffrey told him that the charge was just the language used for the warrant.

As a formality, McCaffrey set a status conference for the case for mid-November. However, if Rintala is picked up by Massachusetts authorities by that date, the hearing would be dismissed.

Two family members of Rintala watched from the front row of the court room’s galley, and left shortly after the proceeding without comment.