Jury finds Pawtucket man guilty of 2020 domestic murder
Published on Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced today that a Pawtucket man has been found guilty in Providence County Superior Court for the murder of his girlfriend, 30-year-old Kristine Ohler, in 2020.
On February 24, 2025, following the conclusion of a 5-day jury trial before Superior Court Justice Joseph A. Montalbano, a jury found Victor Colebut (age 46) guilty of one count of domestic second-degree murder, one count of domestic assault, third offense, and one count of domestic criminal violation of a no contact order, third offense.
The defendant is currently being held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) pending a sentencing hearing scheduled on April 28, 2025 in Providence Couny Superior Court.
“This defendant brutally took Kristine Ohler’s life in a senseless act of rage,” said Attorney General Neronha. “Perpetrators of domestic abuse seek to exert control over their victims and often will go to extreme measures to maintain it. While nothing can bring Kristine back to her family, I hope they can find some semblance of peace knowing that the defendant will be held accountable. I am grateful to the jury, and to the Pawtucket Police Department for their efforts in this case.”
During the trial, the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant murdered Kristine Ohler, strangling her to death in his home.
In the early morning of February 17, 2020, Pawtucket Police and Fire responded to a 911 call for an unknown medical emergency. Upon arrival, police found Kristine Ohler unresponsive in the defendant’s residence, with visible injuries to her face. Officers began CPR before rescue personnel transported Kristine to Miriam Hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased.
Officers detained the defendant at the scene. He later admitted that he argued with Kristine while intoxicated. Neighbors also reported hearing arguing coming from the defendant’s residence earlier in the night.
The defendant’s contact with Kristine Ohler violated a 2020 No Contact Order between the defendant and the victim issued following an incident of physical violence.
“The Pawtucket Police Department works tirelessly to keep our communities safe and to seek justice when tragedies like this occur,” said Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves. “I am thankful for the hard work of our detectives, as well as the Attorney General’s Office, throughout the investigation and prosecution of this case.”
Assistant Attorney General Shannon Signore and Special Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Burke of the Attorney General’s Office and Detectives Hans L. Cute (Ret.) and David Silva (Ret.) of the Pawtucket Police Department led the investigation and prosecution of the case.
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