Charlestown man charged in stabbing death of 45-year-old woman

CHARLESTOWN – A 25-year-old Charlestown man has been charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of a 45-year-old woman who lived at the same residence, according to the Rhode Island State Police.

Alex S. Rolin was arrested Monday after police went to 279 Biscuit City Rd. and found Grya Pihlkrantz with stab wounds to her chest, state police Col. Darnell S. Weaver said Tuesday morning.

Police were called to the home of Rolin and Pihlkrantz to handle a disturbance at 10 a.m., Weaver said in a news release.

Personnel from Charlestown Fire and Rescue rendered aid to Pihlkrantz at the scene and took her to South County Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Rolin was held overnight at state police headquarters.

At his arraignment Tuesday morning, Rolin appeared before Magistrate J. Patrick O'Neill in District Court, South Kingstown.

On O'Neill's orders, Rolin was held without bail. A not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

Less than two weeks ago, Superior Court Judge Melanie Wilk Thunberg entered a judgment in a matter that involved Rolin's drinking and guns, according to court records.

State police arrested Rolin on Feb. 8 and charged him with three counts of carrying a weapon while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

He was also charged with driving under the influence and disorderly conduct.

The disorderly conduct charge and two of the three weapons counts were dismissed in August.

Rolin pleaded no contest to one count of carrying a weapon while under the influence and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Thunberg took away Rolin's driver's license for three months and sentenced him to 10 hours of community service and substance-abuse counseling, and imposed a $100 fine, court records say. The judge also ordered him to surrender all of his guns.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Charlestown man, 25, charged in death of 45-year-old woman