Charlotte Lester, a 44-year-old mother of three, was last seen on the evening of May 16, 2022, in the Apponaug area of Warwick, Rhode Island. Described by friends as having a "bubbly and magnetic personality," she was known for her kindness and her habit of performing "20 good deeds a day." Concern for her welfare grew when her beloved poodle, Chloe, who was almost always with her, was found wandering alone and seemingly abandoned on May 19, 2022, near Belmont Park, miles
from her home. This discovery prompted her ex-boyfriend to report her missing.
The investigation into her disappearance quickly uncovered suspicious circumstances. Days after she was last seen, her red 2006 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck was found abandoned in the parking lot of Kent Hospital. A search of a wooded area near the hospital revealed several items, including love letters written to Lester by a man named Mark Perkins. Perkins, described as a "companion" of Lester's, became a person of interest early in the investigation. When detectives initially questioned Perkins on May 20, 2022, they noted his hands were swollen, though he denied knowing her whereabouts and appeared calm and unaffected by her disappearance.
Investigators soon gathered more troubling evidence connected to Perkins. A convenience store worker told police that on May 17, the day after Lester was last seen, Perkins came into the store with blood on his hands and scratches and bite marks on his arm, allegedly stating, "I think I killed her." A subsequent search of Perkins' home on Staples Avenue revealed blood splatters on the walls, ceiling, door, and bed frame. DNA evidence from blood samples came back as possible matches to both Perkins and Lester. Further investigation, including video evidence and GPS tracking of Perkins' truck, suggested he had followed Lester on the night she disappeared, that her truck was at his house, and that he had disposed of objects, including a mattress which he replaced, in the following days.
For over two years, the case remained a missing person investigation, though Perkins was considered the primary suspect. A significant breakthrough occurred in November 2024 when a hunter discovered human remains in a wooded area in Exeter, Rhode Island. The remains were later identified as Charlotte Lester's through dental records. Following this discovery, Mark Perkins, 64, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He was arraigned and held without bail. The Statewide Grand Jury later returned an indictment charging Perkins with one count of first-degree murder.Last Seen: May 16, 2022
