Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced today that Robert Lamoureux (DOB: 12/25/59), with a last known address 765 Oakland Avenue, Warwick, pleaded guilty before Superior Court Justice Netti C. Vogel for the November 27, 2010 murder of 83-year-old Pauline Buco, and was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
During the late evening hours of November 26, 2010, Robert Lamoureux gained entrance to the victim's house by use of a key; the location of which, according to the defendant, was provided by John Buco, the victim's son. According to his own admission, once inside the residence, Lamoureux attempted to strangle the victim with a clothes line while she slept in her bed.
Ms. Buco awoke and struggled with Lamoureux as he inflicted multiple, traumatic injuries by blunt force. According to the autopsy report, Ms. Buco suffered bruising to the forehead, both wrists and hands, and a fractured rib, nose and vertebrae in her neck. The cause of death was determined to be manual strangulation and blunt force injuries. Ms. Buco's body was discovered the following day by family members.
Through the course of the investigation, Pawtucket Police began to suspect Lamoureux, an associate and former employee of John Buco. The circumstances and nature of Ms. Buco's murder were similar to the 1982 murder of a young woman for which Lamoureux was convicted and served 25 years in prison before being released in October 2000.
During an interview with the Pawtucket Police on July 29, 2011, Lamoureux waived his Miranda rights and provided a DNA sample and statement. The DNA proved to be a positive match to the DNA recovered at the scene. Lamoureux confessed to the murder with his account of the killing consistent with the facts and evidence found at the scene.
"Robert Lamoureux is a cold, heartless killer. From a young age, he engaged in a life of violent crime, including the murder of a young woman at age 22," said Attorney General Kilmartin. "Life without the possibility of parole is the harshest sentence the state can impose on an individual and is not requested or dispensed lightly. As a twice-admitted brutal murderer with no regard for human life, it is clear that rehabilitation is not an option for this defendant, and this sentence is appropriate."
Pawtucket Police Detectives David Silva and Donti Rosciti led the investigation for the Pawtucket Police. Special Assistant Attorney General Roger Demers prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General. The Attorney General and the police consider the investigation still active and will continue to follow any leads.