Cold Case: Debra Stone, 1984
On October 29, 2025, Attorney General Neronha announced an update in the cold case investigation into the murder of Debra A. Stone in August 1984.
Case Summary
Date of incident
September 2, 1984
Description of incident
On September 2, 1984, Narragansett Police Department responded to the Narrow River in Narragansett, where boaters found Debra A. Stone’s body submerged. The state medical examiner determined that Debra’s cause of death was asphyxiation due to strangulation. Multiple witnesses noted that Debra had visited Robert D. Geremia in Johnston the night of August 29, 1984 – the last time Debra’s friends and family heard from her. The medical examiner’s conclusion that Debra died by strangulation, coupled with witness statements corroborated by evidence from the scene, establishes beyond a reasonable doubt that Geremia murdered Debra.
Status
No criminal charges filed - Robert D. Geremia died of natural causes in 1995.
Law enforcement agency involved
Narragansett Police Department
Photo of Debra Stone, provided by family.
Photo of the Narrow River taken by police upon arrival.
White Mercedes that victim was driving at the time of her death, loaned by a male acquaintance.
Robert D. Geremia photographed by Johnston PD during an unrelated arrest.
Exterior of Geremia's Apartment Building 351, as photographed in 1986.
Rope found tying the body.
Cinderblock used to weigh down the body.
Hallway inside Apt. 314 where stain was located.
Drawing by Informant of interior of Geremia’s Johnston apartment where stain was observed.
Section of carpet removed by RISP in 1986.
Glove recovered from the scene in 1984, which was caught in the ropes wrapping Debra Stone’s body.
Carpet removed from Geremia’s Simmons Village Apartment, photographed in 2024 with stain area noted between white placards placed by original investigators in 1986.
