Esteban Carpio is a convicted murderer who made headlines in 2005 when he appeared in court with a plastic mask covering his face. His eyes, cheeks, forehead, and cranial region were red, bruised and swollen. Many people wondered what happened to his face and why he had to wear a mask. In this article, we will explore the events that led to his arrest, trial, and sentencing.
The Crimes of Esteban Carpio
Esteban Carpio was born in 1978 in Providence, Rhode Island. He had a troubled childhood and dropped out of school at the age of 16. He became involved in drugs and crime and had several arrests for robbery, assault, and drug possession.
On April 15, 2005, Carpio stabbed Madeline Gatta, a 26-year-old mother of two, to death in her apartment. He then fled the scene and hid in another apartment nearby. The motive for the killing was unclear, but some sources suggested that Carpio was high on crack cocaine and paranoid.
The next day, Detective James Allen of the Providence Police Department went to the apartment where Carpio was hiding to question him about the stabbing. Allen was accompanied by another detective and two state troopers. As they entered the apartment, Carpio grabbed Allen’s gun and shot him in the face, killing him instantly. He then jumped out of a third-floor window and ran away.
The Capture and Injuries of Esteban Carpio
Carpio was chased by several police officers and state troopers who fired at him several times. He managed to evade them for about an hour until he was cornered in a parking lot. There, he was tackled by Christopher Zarrella, a state police detective who helped in the arrest. Zarrella testified in court that he had punched Carpio in the face three times while making his arrest, breaking bones in his face.
During a press conference, Providence Police Chief Dean M. Esserman said that Carpio’s injuries were sustained as a result of his jump from the third-floor interview room and his struggle with law officials. He also said that Carpio was wearing a mask to prevent him from spitting blood at anyone.
However, Carpio’s family and some civil rights activists accused the police of brutality and excessive force. They claimed that Carpio was beaten up by the police after he was captured and that his mask was a way of hiding his injuries from the public.
The Trial and Sentencing of Esteban Carpio
Carpio was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of using a firearm while committing a violent crime, and one count of possession of a firearm after being convicted of a crime of violence. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
His trial began in March 2006 and lasted for three weeks. The prosecution presented evidence from witnesses, forensic experts, and police officers who testified about the crimes and the arrest. The defense argued that Carpio was mentally ill and suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse. They also presented testimony from mental health experts who said that Carpio was psychotic and delusional at the time of the crimes.
The jury deliberated for about seven hours before finding Carpio guilty on all counts. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole for each murder count, plus 10 years for the firearm charges.
Carpio appealed his conviction and sentence, but they were upheld by the Rhode Island Supreme Court in 2009. He is currently serving his sentence at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston, Rhode Island.
Conclusion
Esteban Carpio is one of the most notorious criminals in Rhode Island history. His face mask became a symbol of his brutality and his alleged mistreatment by the police. His case raised questions about police conduct, mental health, and justice.