A young woman is attacked and killed in her apartment after returning home from work. In the pre-dawn hours of January 19, 2000, 32-year-old Caucasian Kimberly Morse, known to her loved ones as "Kimmie," returned to her basement apartment at the Brick Manor Condominiums in North Providence, Rhode Island, after her shift as a dancer at the Foxy Lady Gentlemen's Club. Her journey home, a roughly 15-minute drive, was a routine she had followed many times. However, this night would end in a brutal and violent tragedy that remains unsolved.
It is believed that upon entering her apartment between 1:40 and 1:50 a.m., she was ambushed. Investigators theorize she had just enough time to place her keys and gloves on a counter before she was attacked from behind.
The attack was vicious and personal. Kimberly was stabbed multiple times, and her throat was slit. There were no signs of a struggle, leading authorities to believe she was completely caught off guard by someone she likely knew. The lack of forced entry into her apartment suggested her attacker may have had a key or was let in willingly. After the murder, her body was moved from the kitchen to the bathroom, where she was placed nude in the bathtub. The assailant then attempted to destroy the evidence by dousing her body in gasoline and setting it on fire. It is believed the fire was set several hours after the murder took place.
Later that day, around 5 p.m., neighbors reported smoke coming from Kimberly's apartment. Firefighters responded to the blaze and were met with the strong smell of gasoline. After extinguishing the fire, which was mostly contained to the bathroom, they discovered Kimberly's body and the gruesome scene. The kitchen and hallway were covered in blood, painting a grim picture of her final moments. The North Providence Police were immediately notified, and a homicide investigation began.
In the years following the murder, the case has grown cold, though not for a lack of effort. Investigators quickly compiled a list of around thirty persons of interest but were unable to make any arrests. They ruled out any connection to her work at the Foxy Lady but did interview patrons who had been known to give her gifts. The case saw a potential break in 2014 when an anonymous email tip led investigators to a rural area in Michigan. While this lead allowed them to eliminate some individuals from their list of suspects, it did not result in an arrest. A critical piece of evidence remains in the hands of law enforcement: the killer's DNA. As of 2019, authorities expressed hope that advancements in DNA technology could finally lead to a break in the case and bring justice for Kimberly Morse. However, no suspects have been publicly named, and no arrests have been made.
